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Blf_l_^ ^ ' II Li^i 1 ^- 



TAYLOR INSTITUTION. 



BEQUEATHED 

TO THE UNIVERSITY 



BY 



ROBERT FINCH, M.A., 



OF BALIilOL COLLEGE. 



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<L . 



AN 

l^iverfal Hiftory, 

F R O M T H E 

' '■'Earlieft Accounts to the Prefent Time. 

Conipiied from 

ORIGINAL AUTHORS. 

Illuftrated with 
CHARTS, MAPS, NOTES, &c 

AND 

A G E NERAL INDEX to the Whole, 
amp ETifei min^ai iytiivu!. Balil. Imp. ad Leon. dl, 

VOL. XV. 



LONDON, 
printed Tor C. Bathuiut, J. F. anil C. Ritihgton, A. Hamil- 
ton, T. Payne, T. Longman, S. Crowdeb, B. Law, T. 
Becket, J. RobboHjF.Newb ERY.G. Robinson, T.CadelLj 
}. uidT.BowLis, S-Bladon, J. MuRKAY,aad W.Fox. 



■*<• 



C-^ t> N T E NTS 



-♦n- 



OF THE 



F I F T E ENTH VOLUME. 



CHAP. LXVIII. . . 

The Conftantinopolitan Hiftorjr, from the Death of 
Juftinian the Great to the Depofing of Irene 9nd the 
jPromotion of Nicephorus, P* < 

CHAP. LXIX. 

The Conftantinopolitan Hiftory, from the Promotion 
of Nicephorus to the Death of Bafilius II. 51 

CHAP. LXX. 

The Conftantinopolitan Hiftory, from the Death of 
Bafilius II. to the Taking of Conftantinople by the 
Latins, 108 

CHAP. LXXI. 

The Conftantinopolitan Hiftory, from the Ezpulfion 
of the Greeks to the Taking of Conftantinople by 
the Turksj and the total Deftru£lion of the Roman 
Empire;^ 1 70 

CHAP. LXXIL 

The Hiftory 1^ the Carthaginians, to the Deftru£tioki 

of Carthage by the Romans, 2 16 

ISpcT. I. Djefcfiption of Carthage, with fome Ac- 
count of the Origin of that City^ ibid. 
|L A Dcfcription of Africa Propria, or the ' 
Territory of Carthage^ 223 

Sect. 



/ ' 



CONTENTS. 

Sect* IIL The Antiquity, Govemmenti Law8> Reli- 
gion, Language, Cuftoms, Arts, Learn- 
ing, and Trade, of the Carthaginians, 235 

IV. The Chronology of the Carthaginians, 26^ 

V. The H^ftory of the Carthaginians, from 
the Foundation of their City to the firft 
• • * • ' Punic War, ■ 268 

VL The Hiftory of the Carthaginians, from 
^ the firft to the fccond Punic War, 378 

Vn. The Hiftory of the Carthaginians, from 
tlie Bdginnifig of the (econd Punic War, 
t6 the Redu^lioii 6f Ctipua by Hanni- 
bal, 438 



DIRECTIONS for placing the COPPER-PLATEg. 

Chart of ancient Carthage j with a Bird^s View of it, 

to face-pag^ 216 



■ - ' I -^ t >■■—■■» 



A N 



Univerial Hiftory, 



FROM THE 



Earlieft Accounts to the Prefent Time* 



«< I I !■■■ ■! 



C H A P. LXVIIL 

^he Conjiantinopolitan Hi/tofy^ from the Death 
of jfuftinian the Great to the Depofng of 
Irene and the Promotion of Nicephorus. 

JUSTINIAN dying without iffuc, juftin, the fon cff Yr. of PI. 
his fifter Vigilantia, whom, in his life-time, he had dc* «9i«., ' 
(igned for his fucceffor, Was by the fenatc proclaimed A. D. 5^5- 
cmpefor, and crowned, with great lolemnity, by John, pa- ^-^ '3»»- 
triarch of Conftantinoplc. As the ptoplc were highly dif- « -. 
pleafed with the deceafed emperor for abolifiiing the office J^^d* 
of conful, the only mark they had left of their ancient li- mpgror* 
berty, Juftin promifed to reftore it, and accordingly took j^^^^^ ^^^ 
upon him that title on the firft of January of the year 566, ^fiuQf 
diilributing on that occafion large fums amongft the peo- tfmftiL 
pie, according to the ancient cuftpm. During his conful- 
fhip, the Avar^, or Abari, a Scythian nation; feitt ambaC^ 
fadors to demand the penfion formerly paid them by Jufti- 
nian ; but the Maflagetes, who at this time began to be 
called Turks, and innabited the country bordering on the 
Tanais to the Eaft, preifing the emperor not to comply 
with the demands of the Ayari, their declared enemies, nor 
take them under his prore£^ion, Juftin not only refufed t9 
pay them the ufual penfion, but threatened to. make war 
upon them, if they otfered to difturb the peace of the em* 
Vol. XV. B ^ piM. 



t ' T^e ConliantinopoUtan Hijtory. 

Vr. of Fl. pifc. The courage and refolutipn whjch-tbc CJSJJ^rQT.Ct- 
*9'3- crtcd on this occafion, gave'fo great fatisfaSion to thcpeo- 
AD. 566. pjg^ jj^^j. ^i^^y b ega n to prefer h]m even to Juftinian* wfap* 
' tliey fald, had, with the fpoils orhisown fuojedis, enriched 

Caufes the Barbarians, the avowed enemies of the empire. But 
Jufltntohe Juftin foon forfeited, by his cruelty and infatiable avarice^ 
murdired. the good opinion which thepeople entertained of him ; for 
the following year he caufed Juftin his kinfman to be feized 
in his houfe, ©ivl "conveyed to** Alexandria, •^^b^re \^ was, 
by his or<Jer, iiibuinanly murdered, for no ^otben crime* than 
^is ^eing**brfo<^^d by the people. The emprefs Sophia^ 
niece* to the late emprefs Theodora, a woman of a cruel» 
haughty, and fufpicfpiia temper, U tlhought to have pro- 
moted this, and feveral other bloody executions*. 
^kt Lorn- The following year is remarkable for the irruption of the 
hards tn^ j^K^b^j^dsjtittoilcalyt w be re tl^y founded aoewJungdom, 
*uad€ Uay. '^i^ich continued for two hundred years and upwards. But 
of their wars with Juftin and his fucceflbrs, till the total 
I'eduftion of Italy, and of the kings of tbeXombards who 
reigned there, from Alboin to Defidcrius, ^aken'prifoner 
by CharlemagiJ4i ;w? I^^ll .^eak in a more.froper place. 
Italy was again difmembered from the empire, and great 
^Ae Per- 'J?^^ ^ ^^ M^ ui the reign of Juftin •,\ but fome amends were 
yiir«w«i^«x^madeforfo great a lofs ty the.acquifition of Perfarmenia„ 
rt<voU to the:inhahitants, who wefe cruelly perfccuted by the Per- 
the Ro" Cans, an.acc©iiptofAeChriftian religion, wbfeh theypro- 
mans. fefled, fliaking off the yoke, and recurring to the protedtion 

. "of 4)je RoRian -einpcror, .^o whpfn they firbmijted, upon 
.certain articles fworn to by both parties. -Cofrbp^s, in- 
iforiTied of. u*^ir yevoit, d^patcbed ^mbafladors to Conftan- 
,tiuopje,.to.divert the ejnperor from efpou-fipg their cau^f5> 
.contrary 40. tbe.tteaties fubfifting between the two^mpires. 
' Juftin refolutely anCwered, that the truce^was expired, and 
. that he couM not deny his-froteftion and affiftance to a brave 
,nation,'Who, prof&fling the fame religion with himfelf, 
*'7^Per^ ]»rere on. that account cruejly perfecuteda^id ppprefied. In 
/^*J '*•* .confequcnce of this declaration, Cofrhpes, having with in- 
Is^man^dO' cre^lil^^e expedition raifed a powerful army* divided it .into 
minions, -two boiief , ordering one to n^irch direjftly into Syria^ uttder 
the cqifiduf6i of Artabanps, wdijle himfdf with the Other 
. invaded Mefopot«imia. Juftip, in th.e.mc?n tiifte> utiterly 
j^fgiecling the 4iiece(Iaty;px^^radoA5 topppofeifoforipida- 
^bjer^anef^tmy, iii4pJg6flin.his»uf!40l plea(ures,.till4iewSfWerc 
,*^r-oygibt J^kti.th^t the ;Peijri?fcf>s /fcadfeptered. hi»^Qm(i»QQJB« 
^fle tb wi- 4iff4t^b!5^ M^fti^firjis, §ap^ain pf hisi[jg*iar4^, iftlo 

». - ■ * :» ....... th? 



*/pr)C^ tp.inrpl.fttfth.^^^bQnds, thieves, an4/pbl?^rs,. as pf- 
Jif^egi thfimfelv.^s fp him m kis way. ,With4hefe,JiQw:c;yev, 
.kcjf|jr*nfe4.-3W4j)»tto %l>t.afmall body Qf,Ppri}a;is,.aD^, 
j^hU^i .vith that .^y^^^tagc, be ; b?4 the <on6d.en(;e to 6t ^ 
4wi^ brfp^fe W^ifibis, tbe jh^b^bitaQt^, who fqprned to fliut 
'^^ir.g9te>99 }nf4^1ti.nrg bim.frpm.tbe/}v?ns,. ^nd a^ing him^ 
.\ehc^er. He had t/een placed xbere with his n}e;n to wat(;h 
tft^lpj or b^.^e.tbe town? The ?ipperor, neverthclefs, 
]^\^\Y inq^l^qiii .^inA .Urn for protx^Aipg the fiege,.de- 
^iv^ji bii(^ pf his pprnm^?^d« ^ fei^t one Acacius to fuc- 
.c^^iblpi.; a ftej) which; fo 4i^pte?fqd. the ^ffic^irs, who wcirp 

i1«qU ^ftqyainted wi^h.tbe.h^ghiy ^i^d y»perip^s tamper 9? 
/Acajcitt^i A'at they ^bafl4pft^4 .the , fi/sg/e, jifl^ reUi:e4 Jntp 
sSyria. 

iAct^ibgnus, : h^vipg pajod v jhe lEu^hr^^^, , adrapccd tP f:4# p/r^ 
JSctaf^le^, wbiQh he took rjby airaiult:» . aqd laijd in aflies. Jamt.^mk^ 
iFrQm: H^racl^a he marc^od to Ap^pp^^, whigh fwbmittcd -^^^^^ 
^ppn t^rms; but was xifiimhpfs'hy h\s pwcjrs piJWg^ and ^ - * 
^fit. After |be reduiSlipripf Apam.e^i fee JpiPiffd th/s 
Jwig» wbphad ujxd?rt^en..Mie.fi9gC;pf Dara»» wfci^ being 
jm^ cgrwd op wUh frpfli.yigpj^r, tbe igarirlfon ? Vi^S; in, tbp 

jend pbligjcd. tos fubmit, ;aft<?c hjurinigf.helici oat ,w}tb great re- 
jfolutjon' and intrepidity fpr thq fpa.ce .p£ £«€ inoni:b5, »Tbe 
jtefc <>f Jpar^s, a.place of tbe iitmpft impprtance, andthc 
woaderfiilprogrefs pf the Lpmbarids in It^ly, affefted.tbc 
tmfSTQX to fuqh a d^gr^e, that he was.(ei;z^ with a kind 7u/fpt 
ofmadnefsj which rendering him altpgie^tbcr incapable of fi^^^^ 
inatagiiDig ,the pnblic affairs ; Tiberigs, by birth aThracian, ]^^gr 
.vhohad.difchargfid, with gr^at reputation, the firft employ- mlaitff. 
ments in the date, ^33, ,ty tbe advice and intereft of the 
fimprefs Sopbia> with. tbe unajnimows confent of the fenatc^ 
oippointed to govern in his rogm. Tiberius immediately fibirius 
itiipatched Trajan, ,a .perfonj highly efteem^d for his wii- goytmsin 
dom and addiefs, to.Cofrhoes, with a letter fronv the. em- ^^''^?^ 
prefs, Sophia, wbercia.ibe acquainted him with the misfor- 
ttm^ that had befallen, bcr.buftand* laid before him the de- • 
ploraWe ftate of the jempirc, and. conjured. him, by all thaX 
yir^ facred, to . forbear infuUing a .helplefs woma^i, or in- 
vading .a weak and defeocelefs ftate. Sbe ended her letter 
Jby ^mentiouiing . tbe humanity formerly ihewn bim by the 
efi^e/pr Juftinian, who, upon his beiug feized with a.dan- 
g^rou3 mdlady^Xentihe bell pbyfici^ns.of the empire toat* 
itcnd him- Cafrhoes was fp fenfibly affcfted with this letter^ 
that he immediately cpnfented.to a truce for three years.**. 

^Evagr.lib.v.cap. 7—- 13. Cedfen. lib. iii. cs^ ^%t Mei\aod»cap. 16. 

B2 * Th^ 



Yr. of Fl. 

4746. 
A. D. 573. 
U.C. 1320. 
*■■ > 111 

declared 
Cafw\ 



Cofrhoa 
itn/ade^^ 
thrR9man 
ikmmiwu 



Is defeat- 
ed t and 
dies of 
gruf. 



Yr;^f Fl. 

.♦930. 
A.D $83. 
U.C. 1330. 

JuJIiH dies. 

Ttberitu 
declared 
emperor* 



i'h Ctrnfiantinopolitan Hiftofy. 

' The emperor, who continued ftill indifpofed, by the ad- 
vice of the eimprcfs Sophia, raifed Tiberius to the dignity 
of Cxfar, refigning to him the whole management oi at- 
fairs, and referving for himfelf the bare name of emperor. 
The firft care of the ncwCxfar w^s to put himfelf in a con- 
dition of making head againft thje Perfians, who, he appre-^ 
hended, would riot fail to invade the empire, asfoon as the 
truce was expired. With this view he raifed a very nume- 
rous army ; but at the fame time endeavoured, by means 
of his ambafladors, to change the truce into a lafting peace, 
and to eflablifli a good underftanding between the two em- 
pires. Cofrhoes, deaf to all propofals, would ndt fo much 
a$ admit the ambafladors to his prefence, being bent upon 
recovering Perfarmenia; which accordingly he over-ran 
upon the expiration of thetrucej committing everywhere 
unheard-of cruelties. He was already on his march into 
Capp^docia, with a defign to befiege Csefarea, the metro- 
polis of that province, when Juftinian, the brother of 
Juftin, who bad been bafely murdered at Alexandria, meet- 
ing him at the head of a numerous army, obliged him to 
venture an engagement, in which great numbers of hie 
troops were cut in pieces, and the reft forced to fave theni- 
felves by a precipitate flight. Cofrhoes was fo grieved at 
his overthrow, that he fell Hck, and died, after a long and 
glorious reign of forty-^ight years* Juftinian^ in the mean 
time, entering Perfia with his viftorious army, ravaged the 
country with fire and fword, and then returned in triumph 
to the Roman territories *^. 

In the following year the emperor Juftin died, after-hav- 
ing reigned (ixteen years, nine months, and fome days. 
He is defcribed by all the writers of that age as a voluptu- 
ous prince, fo addided to his pleafures as utterly to neglefk 
public affairs $ whence the ftate is faid to have Tufi^ered no 
lefs from his ina£tivity and indolence, than from the ty- 
ranny and cruelty of any of his predeceflbrs '*. Upon his 
death Tiberius, who had for fome years goverried the 
empire with an abfolute fway, >^as by the fenate and 
people declared emperor. The new prince immediately 
conf^rr^ the title of Augufta upon Anaftafia, whom he 
owned for his wife, to the extreme difappointment of So- 
phia, who, having greatly contributed to his preferment, 
upon a prefumption that he would marry her, became 
his implacable enemy, when fhe found him married to 
another, and attempted to raife Juftinian to the empire : 

*» Evagr. lib. V. cap, 7— 13. Cedren. lib. iii. cap. iS. Menand, 
cap. 16. c Agath. lib. iv. cap. 13, ^ Paul. Diacon- dc Gcft. 

Langob. lib. iii. ca{i. II. 
: . but 



The ConJlanttn&poUtan tfifto^j. 5, 

But the plot being feafonablf difcovcred, the cmpe/ofw 
caufed all her treafurcs to be feized, th^ only puniflx- 
ment he infii£l:ed upon her \ ' and depriving Juftintan of 
the command of the army in the Eaft, fent Mauritius to 
ucceed him. Mauritius was defcended from an ancient! 
Roman fan^ily, but born in Arebiflus, a city of Capp^docia, 
had ferved in the army from his infancy, and was no Jefs 
dleemed for his ei^cmplary piety, and attachment to the 
orthodox faith, than for his cograge and experience irt war. 
XJfon his arrival in the Eaft, he found Hormifda, who had - ^ 

fucceeded Cofrhocs in the kingdpm of Perlia^ obftinately 
bent upon war, and deaf to the adyaritageous proppfals of- 
fered him by the emperor. Mauritius, therefoi^, having 
drawn together his forces, inarched with incredible expe- 
dition to the confines of Perfia, and falling unexpefledly The Per*, - 
upon the Perfian army, commanded by the king in pcrfon, Jj,^* <^^' 
gave them a total overthrow, . He took their can>p, with j^ ,,^ 
all the royal plate and trcafure, which he immediately fent 
to Conftantinpple, and made an incredible number of pri« 
foners, who were likewife fent to the emperor, by whofe 
orders they were richly clothed, and fufiered to return to 
Perfia, Tiberius hoping, by that generous behaviour, to in- 
cline the young prince to an accommodation. 

But Hprmifda, determined to purfue the war at all eventSi 
difpatched his two generals, Tamochofroes and Aduafma- 
nes, to the borders, at the he^d of the mod numerous 
army that had been feen for many years in Perfia. Mau- 
ritius, however, gained a complete, viftory over them, dif- Hifmnt 
perfed their numerous forces, took feveral cailles and * f^^^ 
tpwns, enriched his army with an immenfe booty, and ^' *'^* 
made fuch numbers of captives, as were fufBcient to pepple 
the iflands and countries that had been long uninhabited, 
and to form armies againft other nations at enmity with the 
empire. Upon his return to court, he was received with 
the greateft demonftrations of efteem ^nd afie£tion by Ti- 
berius, who fopn after gave him in marriage his daughter 
Conftantia, and raifed him to the dignity of Csefar s. In 
the mean time Hormifda, diflieartened by the great lofTes 
he had fuftained, fent ambafladors to fue for peace, which 
was in the end concluded; but not long obferved by that 
faithlefs prince. Next year the Avari or Abari, dwelling Th Jvari 
on the banks of the Danube, made a fudden irruption into Brgak into 
Pannonia, under the condu£t of their chagan or king, and ^^* impire^ 
made themfelves mailers of Sirmjum. The chagan, elated 
with this fuccefs, difpatched ambafladors to Conftantinople ' 

' Evagr. lib. v. cap. 9, s Niceph. lib. xviii. cap. 6, 

B3 to 



6t fht CwJhntindpnUm^ ^ifryS 

W Aen^Scii) thei aiifiml' ^itCkini^ ^9f^\i' th^ ^]>ef<^' \HfA 
irej^tefifcd'to prfy the yekr^ brfort* «ld'befid5§ ariimbhJilf© 
hta'hf wtLJ, of' iiiittth. Tibarllls/ pfirovdk^d' at< tfce ai^<^ 
giint* df tM aWbtiffiiioi-s;' ihftead of (?crtti^ibg^\rt«h^thWi« 
ic&brWtant d^tti^ftd$i dfdij*al'hte t^db^ t6 tate Ai' fleMl. 
The AVari, afraid' t6 hauai^d-^ arf' eftg^gdttifeatj retired bfecJ 
yond the Danube, watthiri^ jift dp]p>dniiftlty oC retf^ing^ 
their i h Va&6ti of the R<>ma^' %rtfk>Aes V 
Yr. of Fl. lwAit^c6^{e 6t tht M\OWingyk:Xft\f^ tt^ 
. ^ n?%6 ^'^^» ^^^^P WaViilg reigtied^Glir yeaw atefl^; ari*' thtci yfe^rV 




p«op4t; 
^'"- had cairifed Mfiuririufeto bedeclSfreil emfferol^, la th^ prelbtice^ 

^/«; for that'Wgl* ft&'ti'drfi Hbtmifdaj klh'g 

Keard ' d* tlie' d§itly» oif • ' TibdriuV tifatt he^ bWfc!* '. ifltb^' tlifcR 
emprtrt; l«'th!6'h«^d'of a^nUftifeba* afmyj'iS^^hlfirtig^tli^^ 
tfte pe^Scii' he" had'^ lately* cdilduded'with 'Kbeild^'w^s rib^ 
l6rigfet' blftdSn^. Agdinft hikt'ftfe'eny^^rdV d1%dtrt¥6ld JbHri^ 
a-Hifrfeai'divy wdb at'fifft'gsjiite;^ fotne^ ftfltfll a^dV^ttfa^erfd^er 
the enemy ; btt«'bii^g»(bSW-aftef?id€feate<ri.hWW9Srr^rfdlfca 
ariki Phlllpplea^, vfh^ h^d^m^rkd'thig efdp€¥oPfflftfeV,' fiVit 
77J# P^r. in hlsfdMhi ThfeMieW ^Hei-'alHv*a'K'srt4;6ittfea ^;Wttf ftl^cfefl ;' 
>«j ^^- fdi* Wa'it^ etig^ged^ thfe' Peffftk^J' \«*k>^ dftfcdlrfag^ 6^ tK^' 
^/^ff^ ^/ pT^dl(&iori^'«or th«i^ rb^g?; mk cailMhig'irV tlte*/ fhi!th*fty 
i'Atk^uu adva'nced'td battld ai't6'a-'c«yta1fi triiitfiptf^he'oti^Jg^d tRferii ' 
' ^ t<t r6iir^i With' gVeat ao<'s>f to tls^bit <ia«p>. Neft nibfMn^tKe'! 
*Pfe*-fia»)S'rt^>)^cdt*fe' fight/' bi*!: t^ett? agrfinf' dtfbt^dfWiHV' 
gVe&t^fildfs^ thk'd thiey ^ h^d" fufrAthfed -the d^fbrfdrfr. A^^r ' 
this'viftdf^^i' PMirpprtti^ Vlfetd:hted' H6f abtt<ft;,> HW lifefcr^diit,' 
v^rh piirt 6F tKt aVmyVcfrtteriififg' biitt' td'efttl^f ^ff Td^ \t^afte • 
this etiafty V cbcrtitf y\ Thc"Pdlrriaft gehetdl/' irfaWied-ffGm 
hrS ofS^(ief'e^Mifig^i'bdlng iftfdrtT*ed by foft^ ^ferterSi thiJt 
tfie ifeWAkifalrifiy was di^'MedprSfHfed'^hls foi^ie^s'V'atid^fiB-^ 
wAo rV afi irtg in thfei de^d 'of the n^ dn ^ Pftilip^ Jii' -put' Mrii •' t6 ' 
te^'wards flight,' ^tfd'tobli:^ a gfe«r riffiJttfe^r of i^^ifdrtdrsr ' Hft^acliusJ 
1f/„ -^ ill tht mcart tta^', havhig^f^^fRidthfe Tigris^' rrid^'^dfc'thti''' 
co\xi\\rfi m^^ Wmtaf rf^aftdt df i ti^^hl ^ffifbng pticeff; arid' 
. . thert taiiin^i loaded with bbbey, to PhiKppit*ti«i >frhB 'v^dr 

dfa^^i^rig' all hfc ' forces .togfethftr,* vAth acfeffgh'td' retfievtf* 
the re^utoioii 'of th'e Rbttiart'aVms 'b'y-'fbrtie 'reiMrteblfe ex^ 
p l6it. Hilt thfe' em/)eroi*;bfciwg inforrii^^ of \fii Iztt TtiKcOn^ - 

«. ! 1 , 1 ■ '. . ■ ■ ' ■ ■ . 

. . t . ; . . < » 

t McjQand. cap.231 Theopl^yl. Sin. pc. cap. 3. 



dtffti ofdcred him to re%n tKe command of the army to. 
riifcus^ and return to Conftahtinople. 

Prifcus was an dfScidr of great courage and experience i 
hiii a$ Ht \^atf i^nivexTally abhorred by tne fdldiery^ on ac- 
count of ^h^i^ ftverit^ .arid imperious temper, a few days ati 
fdr ttife'-^rfi'ai' the'sf plundered hi^ tent, and' would have 
feiflfacred him, ha* he not faved hirhrelfby %ht» and^ 
i^titt i^efuge in tWe iidglibouriiig city, of EdeiFa. tJpoi^ 
hSS retreat die mutiheers' obltged Gernian us, governor of ,y .. • 
PKoertida, to take ujon him the cOmmand^ of the army.* 
^iiA he had not enj6yed long before the emperor, iji- 
fbrmfei of the mutiny, feht Ph'ilippicus again into the tftft! 
tb Hririi^^ them back to their duty. Germ.anus was for 
refigWiifg the cofnniand to him ;. but the foldfery^openly de-^ 
diritig they would obey no other leader, he was forced. 
Both againft his own vi!:iil and the emper®f*5> whom he was 
unwilling tb difoblige,, to continue in the poft to which 
CHey hid ralfed'him. fn the niean tjirne the Perfians, tak- 
ftief iidvatitage of th'efe diftiirbances, broke into the empire^ 
dOTfoyihg every thing with fire and fword : but Germanus The Per- 
engaged them, according tb Evagriiis, with fuch fuccefs^ -^'^'^'J^ 
that fcirce one was left alive to carry the news of their ^^' GglL^ta^ 
ftat intb Perfia ''. Not long after this, viciory the mutiny] 
w^a'sf atopeaftd, by Gregory, biflibjp of Antioch, a perfon 
gfeit|^, belb'v^d and revered by the fbldiery 'foV the fanSity 
bf hft^iiffe and th6 fi'ufnariity of his dilpofition. Moved 
. 8y lifs tear^ and claqiiience, they fubmitted in the end to 
Bhilip'pkus, who, after having pubfilhed a general a£l o^ 
obliyJbif, marched without lofs of tiriie againft the l^erfiansj 
whbm h6 defeated irf a pitched battle^ in w\iich the general 
E^mfelf, b^ name iClarazas, arid almoff the whole armyJ 
v^tit dettroyed, only two thoufand two hundred of fo great 
a multitude having efcaped tKe general flaughter *. ^ 

The fame ye?ar the city of Antioch was^once more almoflt 
utterly deftroyed by a dreadful earthquake, in which abovq 
thirty thoulana perfons were either buried under the ruins^ 
or fwallowed up by the earth! Sittas, one of the citizen^ y^, of Fl. 
of Martyropolis, having betrayed that important place to ft936. 
the Perfians, Philippicus,' early ip the fpring, laid fiege to A. D, sSiU 
ft; brit not being able to reduce.it, he was recalled, and ^>^''33^> 
domrii'entiolus appointed to command in his room, who «-# p _ 
filling upon the Perfians. gained a complete vi£lory over ^jgj ^^, 
tficm, made hiriifelf* maffer of a caftl^ called Ochas, built feattdby 
6ti a hTg\i rock over-^gainft Martyropolis, and from thence ^«««»*«- 
fd/ aAhbyed the garrifon with his wairlike engines, that thc^ ''*^« 

^ Evagr. libV v. cap! 9. TbeophVcap. 8, 9. * Ibid« cap. 10, 15. 

S 4 were 



9 fjbe ConftantitiopoUtan Hiftory* 

were obliged to fubmiti and deliver up the place* Hor* 

inifda, afcribing his lofles to the cowardice of his general> 

named Barames, deprived him .of his command^ fending 

him at the Hime time the habit of a woman^ as more be* 

coming him^ than the military attire. Barames, to revenge 

^ tills affront, confpired againft Hormifda, who was univcr- 

fally hated on account of his.cruelty. . Having eatily gained 

6ver the greater part of the army, and amongft tjie reft 

Ferrochanes, who had been fent to command in his room^ 

Hormifia he fell upon the king with the other confpirators, and 

dCC' P**^^^"? ^'^ down from his throne, tore the diadem from 

rhoes hit ^^\ head, and conveyed him, under a ftrong guard, to the 

fon^ raifed public prifon. Next day the nobility, whom he had pro- 

to tht voked with his crueUies, ordered his wife, and one of his 

thrgni, fons, to be fa wed afunder in his prcfence j and then putting 

6ut his eyes, they threw him into a dungeon, where he 

was treated with great humanity by his elded fon Cofrhoes* 

whom the rebels had raifed to the throne. But; the d^ 

pofed king, not able to bear fo great a change, inft.cad of 

„ .^ icknowleging the kindnefs (hewn him by his fon, who] 

dared not releafe him, trampled under foot whatever was 

fent him ; a circumftance which provoked Cofrhoes to fucK 

.-..; **.. -.-a degree, that in the tranfportor his paflion he caufed him 
to.be beaten to death. Though the Perfians abhorred Hor- 
Mifdav yet the averfion they conceived againil Cofrhoes^ on 
^ccdunt of this unnatural murder, was fo great, thfat the^ 
nobility, people and foldiery corifpiring againft him, drovQ 
him from the throne, and obliged him to take refuge in 
the Ron^an dominions. Mauritius, touched with compaf- 
fibn, and reflefting on the uncertainty of all human gran- 
deur, received him' at Conftantinopje with all poffible de- 
fnonflrations of kindnefs, entertained him in a manner fuitr 
ibl6^o'*h^s condition, and having prefented him with im- 
nienfe fums, fent him back at the head of a powerful armyi 
, which entering Perfia^ defeated the rebels in a pitched bat?: 
tie, obliged Barames, their ringleader, to take ref|igc. 
amongft the heighbouring Barbarians, and reftoring the b^ 
hl^ed prince to the throne of his anceftors, returned in 
, ' '" fiiiimpb to the Roman territories ''. 

^he Av^fl >^' tJpon the reftoration of Cofrhoe$, a profound peace en- 

ihn^i^^J'fjl f\igij in the Eaft; fo.that the emperor was at Icifure to pur- 

imptte. ^^^ fue the war ak^inft the Avari, who, paffing thd Danube, 

' .had'entered Thrace, arid made themfelves mafters of fe- 

vcr:ri ftrong places in that province. Mauritius marched 

.^ agaihft them in'perfon, at the head of the army lately re- 



i V « & 






k Nicep^. lib. iii. cap. 4, Evagr. lib. iii. cap« 10. 

turned 



Th^ Qmjlantimpolitan Hyioiji 9 

turned from the Eaft j but after feveral battles fougbt Mfith 
dubious fuccefs, he was in the end obliged to purchafe a 
peace, which however the king of the Avajri did not long 
obferve ; for entering into, an alliance with the Gepidse, the 
Sclavi, and other neighbouring Barbarians^ he returned 
the following year, boafting that he would utterly aboUfli 
the Roman name, and eftablifli a new empire over all peo« 
pie and nations. After he had laid wafte Thrace, be jip- 
proached Conllantinople with his numerous army 9 which 
ftruck. fuch terror into the inhabitants, that they were for , 
quitting Europe, and retiring with their families and efFe£tst 
to Chalcedon and other places in A fia. But the emperor, \ 

unmoved at the impending flbrm, prevailed upon them not 
to abandon their native country to the fury of the Barba<^ 
rians, afluring theni that Heaven would not f^fier the peaoe^ ' 

which the chagan had confirmed with the moil fplemn oaths,' 
to be thus violated with impunity. The citizens, encou- 
raged by the words and example of the pious prince, b^- 
gan to prepare for a vigorous defences but at this jun£^Ure 
their preparations proved unneceflary ; for a. violent plague Obliged h 
breaking out in the enemy's camp, fwept off daily great a plague t§ 
numbers pfthcm^a^Hamongft the reftfeven of the^hagan'^ ^^ff^» '« 
fons i a calamity which fp terrified the Barbarians, that '^^'^^^ 
they refolved to abandpn thp Roman territories, and return '*** ^ 
beyond the Danube. > The chagan, when upon the point of 
departing^ offered to fet at liberty the Rpm^n captives, , of 
whom he had twelve, thoufand, for a^.very inconfiderable i * ^ *' 
ranfom ; but the emperor refufing to ranibm them, becauffi ^ . 
they had been for the mofl: part concerned in the mutiny^ ' * 
which happened in the beginning of his reign, the chagan, j 
tranfported iwith rage, put them all to. the fword. Thi^ 
execution occafioned a mutiny in the army, and a great tu- • - 
mult at Conllantinople,. where the populace infulted tb^ 
emperor in a moft outrageous manner *. , 

Next year the Avari, under the conduct of their warlike 
ling, renewed their ravages, but were, lu five fiurcefliye 
battles, overthrown ,by "Pnleus, wijh the lofe t)f above thirty 
thoufand men^ and ooliged to quit the Roman dominions, 
Prifcus returned to Conllantinople j but Peter, the empe- 
ror^s brother, who commanded an arrhy on the Danube, 
was ordered to crofs that river and winter in the enemy's 
country. This order the foldiers, who had conceived an 
irreconcileabe averfion to Mauritius ever Cnce he refufed to 
ranfom the captives, would by no means comply withj, 

> Theop^yl. lib. vii. ca^. z— 17. & lib» Tiii* cap. 2. Cedrcn. Ann. 
"M^uf. If . Zonar.p. 137. 

looking 



vo 



7i»(ionJfyiHkopaBtan^J^^ 



ilari Pko- 



rki army th6kiji4xfp6MVt^^gi\f€Hah purpdK* to ' cxpoft tfierit t& ite W 
wthiDa- hafdffififttt A gfih^^mbtihy^ctifmiigjthiy declared a tStttiii^^ 
rnmbidB- ^oni namiwl* HWcasi ciri]fierbr, bcftawin'g ujxitt lliih,' ^tS 
repefltt^d acd^^tfe,' tHc titli of A\ig4iftu^. N^sTxiF thfcf 
^^ tevolt of tfcfe ^tti-j^i atttf tBe pf^oniotioh x^f ' Phbcais, bdrig' 

Af^iifrf/iiii bfooght tbCo* ffeHtJfibpfli, th«pbMacei e«i?cfr fond 6f cH^^di 
wiir/i. r<^^gariiift*MstMfiWsi \*dfindiiig;himfelfabanadhfed bf h'li 
gnardi, ettAdrkea^ih'a finalj vtfifel v^Htb his' wift ail4cHil- 
d!rcrt,'p<()p(]ffihgt6>rctijfein difgtiHe tdftrtie plaice of.fijfity j 
butb^infe driveli-Bactbycottthry: >ii^3rtd5; be tibjt' itfti^ 
in the^chlirdhoft^d jfrtlitytAutdncyittirsi abouta^fiundi-ed 
PAwtf/ afi<( fiftyvfw loHg* from Cofnftaotinofife; In the mean tiWei 
^r^r fl/ P*»^^»^^ atVi«hg wiffiHis atmy^ entetid the rftV amidff 
^^BoMii- ^^^ acfciaftiartofi^'df thfe popirlacei, and was foleihhty crawa- 
nojii. tAiti th^ chirfi** <* St. J^h Ba^tift, wiHi brs-wir* Ucdhtia; 
by'thfe p^rtiik'db'i' aftet Wef had pfoniifi<!! to m^irt^iiVl thd 
rights of th'^^chiirch,' an*tti dfeftWVhfif faith of tb^iBufitJfJ 
of Niec ittil Ghdlcc*ini ... 

The foll6^»fe^ d^!fe'C^lfffi}t^3'pAKt!'f^^ 
/' which ^i»m'di{Jkfte8\aTiffrig*BttT!d<i6tt' the W^^ 
- 4se blue' aWd^tfie^^^T^eehv PHoca^ (Hit 'his' guard's tb abpeaffi 
tfi^ tuni%k ;' i^WfaVlbg uferf rditgWy ^4ribune of the blue 
. faajoif,- tiifote of tfii i^rAti ^iri4 thrpatenfrtg tb^' erfldei^[)^; 
• ' ' t^^& Gtt«- thJirMiUrifiiisv '^b w6aM d6 the^ juflrbej Wa's 
i«)t5y«i'a«^; Th»e^\51a!ttaitibh a^kened' the jfeaWtrfJrol^ 
ihe tyfkWi ili^ha^iWm^diaWly t^dferW Mabrft^u^ ttjtjt drag;- 
Yr.of FL gfe«fro*hHaiyit?ih^to'C?h»!<?6te«V^'i/^^ fiVeofHii'chm 
19SI' dl-eti wer^ ff^tl ihhiftHa«lyf mi^M' in his* p^eftrfde, ^iirf 

uc itcf theft' Wh>?Mffilf^vi«^»«?<^afedl ■Hfc^bfefttlfl'tlfe dfeat«'of hii 

' ^ ^^ ' children >;^lth' fiieh'flfihhtfi' aW<8 feftnflSirt refigWattoiT, as 



Mauritius cah-hai^ff B<i iMtdMed' in 'firfl!3r jr^ frtqvdntly fe^feat% thW 




dftbaW^aMff^pliceffh^r.'clT^tii'B'MS roo^ij the' cAiferot 
i^ouia-rid£^fiiffd^tA»^tfitf4'df* fhto'to tikfe^ plat^, but dlf. 
covtte^^ittd'&X'AemmM: l^tKeids df the emperor 
ahtf fhey6iri^^iAt!fe '>/B^crd for fi^e d^$'I«t ei^dfed to 
lAiWiC' viewi iWd^ thtn Wurietf :*fffi the bbdiei nfear tTre 
toWl?rf S^.^ Mkri^t"*. SiicH ^Ut\i€ tiAot miiAti\xt\ 
flfte^Ke B4H?;'liV6a fi'ttf /e^s'; rfi^' reT^eft' fliteen^ vfea'f^j 
arec-hidhflft/ ahtl*fcriic day^«; • llife'tytant, rfbi: fitlsfltii 
^JffltHe'deSfli 6f MJAiAilui, cslitM Peter his Brothferi Corii^. 

Ann. Maur. 19. Zonar. p, in* ^ EVagV. libVv'* Cip. i^. 

^- >i ' • mcntiolus. 



ttfe foft erf PbiHW)k*il^, and Praefmnltitifasy afi ofl&er irfjgrMttl^ '•«^v ia*^^^ * 
diftteiatoft^ rtaith »«f»cted tb-^Atf' fdnftif of: tbe^ d*<^rJ* J.*'''» ^' 

dd^ft {M of 'MtU^lriftl^; md^ bCfdl fbKt^ by His^ f^tli^iift^ murd!rtd 

Am^ vf\iotc^\k hutb reftevdi'td-' the thrbfteof hi^am:^$lfef^y 
bait' belbi^ th'e< ybafiK\ priftci^ itudflbd thie conAfii^i df^ ftit< 
ctttt)ir6yh%? \^a4'fi«i«^d, and'ctteptfed at a place €ane[d<Lrftii» 
cftSk, ataf/ftalldf&t^fioifi'Nftteatitt Bithyttfaf .- 

- Fl^oc^; t6tr^iM*6i^^dimed aiiM^^^lcnNfleged at ei^Hikiftla *" 

ifopte; feifttif adc(^d}ngt« ctrfti)^' h^ own inftige^ sind^ttelff 
of hii wSfeLebiiliiy ti ttome^'Whtt't'theyw^ 

Mi^irHiU^' ofi aci^oidntof the crtiel e»a£li&n^ of die^'extttete/ 
anfA his oth^t Mfftft^fs^ih Iwrf. . DfegOPf, ftirh^mett-ttaa 
Gf esit; then biKhdp of Rohie/, <ia!af^ fljeinia^s fb to Ibdg^^ 
ifc th^'ortilbi^ of ^ t\le mWrtyr C«tfi¥lti»y' aftd \^oie tendrs W 
tlie lifew ^Aigerdr, edngratul^it^ Him-upriflf h1s^a*ki(ft«^W * " 

v^fettcey td d^iVferthd ptoplfe ffotfi' tbfei innttoer ftfeie <ittltttt}ii^ . . 

t"rttf attd h^Avf Gppl^ak) AS' Utidet i«4rf 

ed'*. Ha'dMs^d iiyttthtr^th^taftrfrdf ^(yeag-^ttdfieS^abUr Phoca^ - 
thdt'wMcW hfas' bfe^feif do#rd]fed't6 u^ id Gregbry'tf^ laflSWsy (haraaer. 
>^ '^if Id^ f&^ll'iiA' avnidiigft the.beft ptitlc^l imkidtftt^ 
iH' \Ahs^ V' titiV all ' m\it^ \(?rftdrs paiftt ' hibt id -ql^tte. d M^' 
fci*ifti*icdldtfih^V^"'*'W3 aiMoftsr, tr&iiifaiktcd td uj^^byfeJ 
vVf al hlftortaffSj'^Midlently fpeaW hinf 'a* ntetf cnifcl ;W't4iM^' 
tKlfflyrtj^faiifi. Hfe'"^& of middlhigjffiitiire, fays Ced^etA^^i^ 
dcftyfrtlcd, a'ltd of a tftWiblft afj)aSb: his' balr \(r4« red» h^ 
cjrfe -tireni^s met> arid dtie* df hfa^ cheeks < was marked wfth a» 
fear, ^hicfi; w*tftf hte wa's itf a paHtotv^ grew Made «!!ri> 
fiij^h^ul': H^ wW ^a^tlf addi£):^d t& wit^ artd< womdnji 




pc«|)la by dtrSr^lngi t*6' ciW^ftinf gaiiidft- With^ exttaor- 
dliia^jSbtlPi^, ' akd' diflr^ibi^ti jfg^ 01^' thstf • otSCa^dit lat^e fUt»S ' 

^,^^m^^h(s^\iS' bvt fiiKliiif 'tk^t ]»ftead df 'a}^plafudi»^i 

tll^y iivited^M#f ^^^k^ ArtollSa^di 6d> drdei'ed hfo- gttflirds td 

f^H 1$^ tldfetii^:' Simid W€f6 km«4<^ mAtiy wottiid^, aild' 

gf^^i titfhib^rdl^to tdpHf^fft: bidt'tfre p(ci|>b)ace rifingi HeishJit*\ 

fdt'thete afe*'HbeHy/-ani thbii<«efo!i»fficifte«ivcd-8ffl irrecotl- •^h^ 

ciW^^ rf*^ffite%otta^tip-tt^. . '^'^*'" 

• Greg. 115/36"; jp/ j^# i^ Qlifi^ iU»Aieb/ana i. "" 

Thp 



»5i ^eCdnftuttlincipoUian'H^ry^'^: 

Nm^fki ri-^ Thtl \leath of Mauririua^ was ho foonefJkrJoW in the Eaftr 
wA/| than the celebrated Narfes, who, at .that- time, command^. 

^. th.« ttpops quartered on Ac frontiers pf iPerfia, i^evolted i. 

sm4 fcizing on the city of Edefia, eafily J^rfuadecl Cofrhoe!S> 
tp joifi bimi in ofdfir.to depofe the tyriitt/ atidjievenge the> 
. . death of a prince toiwhom be was indebted). for his croWn;. 
^ofrhocs, upon the .firft invitation, entered the Roman ter^t 
ritori^s, at the headcbf^ powerful army; and over-run, with-' 
out Opp0(ition» all Mefopotamia* .Agai^ft ihis, invader. 
Germanus wasfent iiJto the Eaft ; but Narfes meeting him. 
^nidtfeats nt)t:f$r ifrom JEdeiTrf,., engaged, and put him to flight, Ger- 
Qermanus, ijtja^njcjyuig a few . daya ^er of a wound he received in. 
tiM.^i)gagement, l<eontiiis, who was fcnt to fucceed him, 
havjog, upon bis arrival, fuffered himfelfto be furprifed bjj' 
^arfes, was in liite ma*iner defeated, and his army dif-' 
pet^fe^l a difgrace which provoked the tyrant to fuch a 4?r; 
gree,. ihat he not Only recalled, but ordered; him to bp) 
1^4 about in chains, expofing him thus to tjie pw^rages aprf; 
Phocas ipfykscff the pop^lace• .Phocas, defpairing of fuccefs fch 
gutnseytr Ipj^ ^3 fJarfes continued iii the' Perfian intereft, left no- 
'who is n^ft^iloA Wtried to giin him over 5 but after he bad, wiib 
humt tbs:9)oft^emn paiths, ^nd repeated afiuraaces of indem* 
ati%ie. . ♦. yntir:m^ favofir, pcifu^ded him to return home,, he. no. 
•^- - •• ' fQ9fWi:lh^4 him ih bJspowcr, than he . catifed ' hiip tobtf- 
Wptl^Uim, to^the'gifea.Cgcitf and diflatisfa£Hon of theRo- 
nSansyLbyiM^bOmhe was s^dpf^d on ^ccpvint.pf itbe^ eminent; 
&ryiic4s ibe hadj rendered th^ empire, and tp jt1>e no lefs fa- , 
ti^&clic^jQf the Perfiaa%,.;wbP dreaded t^ vei^y nameof^ 
ISfa^Jfes*^.! /Though deilitut^ of fo renowficd a .leajder, they 
pai^fi^ed the war with gre.at vigour, over^r^n thi^ year all Me-f , 
fppotamia Jind Syria^; and shaving committed; ^very-where . 
e(tM>4fmbu$'t:rueHi6s, reTur^ed home with %njn>mcntc booty.. . 
^f Pbffa#s,Lfinding ,hiiB>f<j;lf univqrfally hat^d by the people, t 
o^y^^:m^^toi bis cr-Ci^it^es.^t; home, ai?4.thjs advantages { 
g^n^drb^ii the' enemies oi/(bf^ empire abroad, in. order toi 
fti^tPgtb^n.^nd fecUrefhifi authority bv alliances with th^. 
nqbiUty,; married his> daughter Dpmitia t^ Prifcus,, a pa- 
txm^itii and captain of tb?guard$>: but in the magnificent 
{keMt^Sithatyvere.esqbibitedjon occ^fion of the nuptials, the . 
people ibaving faluted th^.. bride and bridicgrpom with the;, 
nemfe- tifcleipf'Aivgwfti* the je^QCi|9 .emperor ordere.d Theophanes • 
^''""^ \ap^:S^:^mp%j;ttSt, wb.o:fu})^rintended the fports, and had 

^x|?pfed;i<^*RjQ»^g«A.<?fjft'ifc^^^ and Doinitia w:itbout any: 
'evil defign, to be beheaded in .the cir<^as;. and would have . 

1 r. r 1 Ce^MAi ^Mifc^ ijift' ad Annf:Phoc..j, 

.: ;• like. 



€ru 






^he CanftantimpoTitan Htfioty* ^^5 

lito^ife piit Pri£ctts to death, had not the people interpofed ih 
his behalf '• Thejealoufyof the tyrant being thus awakened^ 
one Peronia, who was privy to all thefecrets of.Conftantinat 
the widow of Mauritius, informed the emperor, that ibe 
* maintained a private corrdfpondence with GermajiuS) :fL 
man of great authority in the former reign, with a dcSgti 
to raife her fon Thebdofius, whom (he believed ftill living, 
to the empire. In confequence of .this information Con- Conflan* 
' ftantina was immediately feized, and being put to the rack, tina, nvitk 
confefTed that Romanus, by rank a patrician, was privy to ^^^g^r 
the confpiracy. Romanus difcovered upon the rack feveral ^™^* 
others, and among the reft Theodorus, prefe£k of the Eaft, otherSf piti 
HelpidiuS) John, Ziza, and many other perfons of great todituk* 
diftinfkion, who were all, by the emperor^s order, put to 
death, together with Romanus and Germanus, the tyrant 
not even fparing the daughter of the latter. As for Con- 
ilantina, ihe was carried to the place where her hufband 
had been put to death five years before, and there publicly 
executed, with her three daughters •. The jealoufy of the 
•fufpicious tyrant being heightened by thefe drfcoveries, in- 
credible multitudes of perfons of all ranks were daily dragged 
to prifon, which by that means was fo crouded, that great 
numbers died daily, fufFocated with the ftench of the place, 
till a pious matron, touched with compaiTion for the un- 
happy priibners, yielded up her houie for their accommo- ^ 
dation ** ' , 

While t*hocas thus raged at home, Cofrhoes in the Eaft Syria^ Pa^ 
laidwafte, without oppofition, Syria, Paleftine, and Phoe- ^»*» fw^ 
nicia: having put to flight the troops that were fent againft ^^^^f* 
him, he entered Galatia, and committing dreadful ravages, ^ fj^g p^^^ 
both in that province and in Paphlagonia, advanced as fair fians. 
as Chalcedon. In the mean time Phocas, inftcad of pro- 
te£ttng hie people againft an implacable and infulting enemy, 
oppreiTed them with every fpecies of tyranny. 'He not only 
put to death all thofe who were related to Mauritius, but 
caufed Commentiolus, governor of Thrace, and one of the 
beft officers of the empire, with feveral other perfons of 
great diftin£kion, to be inhumanly murdered. Thcfe cru- 
elties alarmed Prifcus, fon-in-law to the tyrant, who, ap- 
prehending fooner or later the fame fate, refolved to pro- 
. Tide for his own fafety, and to rid the world of fo great a 
plague. Being informed that Heraclius, governor of Africa, Prifcui 
was privately carrying on a confpiracy in that province, in- cQufj^iru 

•ftead of difcoverin£:it to his father-in-law, he drew over the *-?*'^ ^^ 

^ empgror* 

. 'Tbeoph, Hift. Mifcel.lib.xvii. ca{r. 40. ' Idem ibid. Ki- 

cepb. lib. xvii«cap. 41^ Glic. Annah in Conft. Mag. 

chief 



« 4 * * • • 



rfihsefiimn in the fcoajietatheipartyoftbe confpii3^tor9|taiui 
,»t .ifae lame. time difpatdiis^ pcrfons^Jn id^om he coofti 
,cotifide».io)Heraclius, jaklvifed:bim to fend^ Mfitbaiitlofaof 
ttimC) tbisibn Hecaeliiis, taoji iKicetaSs tfaecfon of -Gra-^ 
igQfM^ :b«8 tieuccnant, Mrldi.wrhat forces ihe could (ipiare/.tD 
. fhapport the< people and nobility^ who were readytp revolt "• 
,Pibocas» in the mesm whiki iipt appri&d ofi the dinger that 
> threatened him^ xiifpatcbed Bonofaa, whom.be iutd- lately 
(iq^omtcdcckiintpf tbe.Eafl;, with a€oiifiilcf»ble;army.tto.op- 
•Jfn infur- ipc^eitber'Fer(ians}.butwthtlehe wasonhis march j he receayed 
^^Ik^ I ftofli letters from the emperor, ftajoining hitn tohaftcn.too 
1 ^^^^ * (iAiiiioch, where the Jews» riring:againft the .Chri(tians».bad 
. jma^acoed great niunbers of them^ and.ampngthe.rdQ: Anaf- 
(tafitts^ ^he .celebi:ate4 patriarch of that dty, whofe klead 
jfaodji they .had igooniinimifly dragged tbrottgh the ftreets^ 
-and' infulted in a. moft outrageous manner. (BpnodCiis, hav- 
Jng attempted. In. ^n to appeafe the tumult by goatle means, 
ioliupon the mutineers fwpfd in hand, cut^reat.numbeFS 
:of themin pieces» and drove, the reft out .o£ the qty "". 
Atumtilt ..ijktthe iame time greater difoiidiers happcfiedat .Con- 
ai Comfian^ jft^tinoplc. The 4)eopIe, reviling tjie emperor at theputv 
^^P • .lic.jiiews for his cruelty, drunkennefs, and deb^ucherieSf 
(provoked him to fuch a degree, that, tr^nfported with £age, 
-he caufed feveral of them to be feiae^t vrho were either 
-beheaded on the fpot, or. by his orders thrown headlong in- 
to thefea ; barbarities which fo enraged the reft, that they 
let i fire to- the palace and the public prifon ; fay which 
"Mtomf^ira. ^neansthofe who were con£ned made their, efc^ipe. The 
wagainfi tyrant's own court growing at length tired of him, a.con- 
J:^^^'* (fpiracy.was formed againft him by thofein wh^ he,moft 
co^trLf. confided. The, chief authors of it were Theodorus^ a Cap- 
-fkadocian, the prsefedus praetorio, : Helpidius, who. had the 
(^are jof the warlike engines, and Anaftafius, the coipes lar- 
^ittonum. Tbefe, with' feveral others . of . great .authority 
leeac his per£bn, .agreed to fall upon him in the hippodrome^ 
Jbiitithe confpir^cy being: difcove red by Anaftafius, the em- 
jpero^ oriiered all thofetwho had been privy to it, Anaftafius 
-himCdf not excepted, to be put to death. Fhocas efcaped 
Yr. of Fl. -tjiis .danger; but the following year,6io, he was overtaken 
A^D^'eii. "^'^^ Mte he b«l long deferved. Heraclius, thc*fon«f 
UC. V359*. ^he governor of Africa, who bore the fame name, takiog 
upon him the tilde pf emperor, and. being. aeknowlegi^d. as 



" *■< " ■»' 



Hvtaeiiui^ -fochhy the people pf Africa, failed from . thence with a 
pKsei^impi formidable fleet, .and ^ pgwexful.aimy on .board, *for Con?- 

^ * '11 Gedren..in Anna). Phocar. W(Jiift..tMtrcel*lib..i|«ii. Ann. 

Phoc.7. Cedfen. Aon.j. 

ftantinople^ 



jle, whIIe.'Nicetas marched t)iitli«;r by way of Akie- 
andria and the Pentapolis. HeracUus fteere^ his cqucfe tp 
Abydus, wfa^revhe was received with great demonftrations 
p£ joy by feveral perfons of f ank, w1m> had been bapiQied 
J^y Phocas. From Abydus he failed taCopfts^Qtinople^ whi^f/s 
be engaged and. utterly defeated the tyrant's fleet. Phocas Phocas da 
Jtooi fcfuge in the palace ; but one Phqtinus, whofe wife pofidsmd 
Jie baid formerly debauched, purfuing \xita with a party of ^V? 
ibldiers, forced the gates, dragged (he c^jnisardly emperor * 
Sroaoi the tbroi^e, ,and having ftf^pp^d lam of the imperisil 
xobes, and clothed him with a. black yeft> parried hi)ai in 
chains to Heraclins, who commanded firfl his hands and feett 
then his arni^s, atyd at lad his head, to.l^ c^t off: the re- 
maining part of his body was delivered .ifP:to the fokliers, 
.who burnt it in the forum. We are toid^ thfit l^eracliij^ 
.having reproached him with bis evil sMkniniftration» he an- 
.r«rered» with great calmnefs^ '^ It is incumbent uppn you 
.to govern better */* Such was the end of this cruel tyranf, 
after ^e h^d reigned. feven years and ibme. months. Upon HeracUus 
^his death, .{{eracUus was procl^iined emperor ^ and being froclaimid 
.crowned by SergluSj the patriarch pf Conftantin9p]e, he ^^'^^ 
^placed the iinperial crown on fhe h^ad oftFahia, thenceforth * 

.cailed Eudocia, the daughter of Rog^itus, an African, who 
.had been formerly betrothed to him. Her^clius was de- 
icended of a noble and opulent family in Cappadocia, of a 
.fioajeilic afpeft, well ^IkiUed in the art of war, courageous^ 
and able to bear the fatigues attending a military life. 

The people, who had long groaned under the tyrannical 
yoke of his predeceflbr, were highly pleafed^wiith^fae change : 
but their joy was allayed> by difmal tidipgs fcopi the &ai^, 
where the Perfians made themfelves mgfteis of JEdefTa, aikI The Per" 
i^pamea, and penetrating as far as 4tntipf:h, cut pflFalmoft fumsmaU 
to a man a body of Romans^ who attempted to ft<?p l^em» *^'^f*^'^' 
. committing every where, without controul, moft dreadful 7^-^^"^^ 
ravages, and upheard of cruelties. DeradULv^* to aufwer cixies* 
the expeftation the world had conceited of him, caufed 
new levies to be made throughout the en^pir?, the old cprps 
.being fo entirely exhaufted, that, of the -many thoufands 
who had feven years before. revolted frpin Mauritius, and 
• declared for Pbpcas, pnjy two foMi^rs-were now living ^. 
The new'-raifed troops vrere fent into Qappadocia, under/the Ravage 
^<;^mmand of Cnfpus, who neverthelefs could not presrcnt Cappado^ 
the Perfians from over-runnipg tb^l province, *nd making ^^^^^dAr^ 
themfelves mafters of Caefarea, which they facked, and hav- *^*'* 

x.Nicep|).lil>.xviiih£SKp* 9i6* MifceU^Ann.r.dPboc* r Cedren* 
Hcracl. Ann. i. . : * 

Jng 



J 6 91be ConftantinopoUtan Hiftory* 

ihg laid waftc both that province and Armenia, returned 
home loaded with booty *. 

On the third of May, of the fame year 6i i, the emprcfs 
'Eadocia- was. delivered of a fon ; but (he died foon after, and 
was interred with extraordinary pomp. The fon was call- 
ed Heraclius, and afterwards Conftantine the younger •. 
Heraclius, not finding himfelf in a condition to reftrain the 
Perfians by force of arms, 'difpatched ambaifadors to Cof- 
rhoes, offering to pay him a yearly penfion, and to conclude 
Ovtr run a peace upon his own-terms: but Cofr'hoes, deaf to all pro- 
Egypta/td pofals, fent next year a formidable army into Syria, under 
imtit^t ^^ condu£k of Rafmizfus, who, after having ravaged, with- 
Jerufalim. *^^^ oppofition, that Country, broke into Palefline, and took 
the city of Jerufalem, where they committed unheard-of 
cruelties. They are faid to hav6 fold ninety thoufand Chrif- 
tians to the Jews, who purchafed them not with a defign to 
ufe them as flaves, but to vent upon them, their inveterate 
hatred, and implacable rage againft the religion they pro- 
fefled. Zacharias, the patriarch, was carried into Perfia, 
with an immenfe booty, and part of the crofs on which our 
Saviour fuffered **. In the courfe of the fame year Herac- 
lius married Martina, his brother's daughter, and caufed 
her to be crowned, with the ufual pomp, by Sergius, the 
• patriarch of Conflantinople. The Perfians next year over- 

ran all Egypt, took and pillaged the city of Alexandria, and, 
advancing into Africa, laid (iege to Carthage ; but not be- 
ing able to reduce it, they returned unmolefted into PerGa, 
carrying with them infinite numbers of captives, and the 
fpoils of the feveral provinces, through which they pafled ^ 
Heraclius, who continued all this time at Conflantinople, 
. where he created his fon Conftantine Caefar, and gave the 
title of Augufta to his daughter, being apprifed, that he had 
not fufficient ftrength to oppofe fo formidable an enemy, fent 
once mote ambaifadors to Cofrhoes, reminding him of the 
kindnefs formerly (hewn him by Mauritius, and offering to 
conclude a lafting peace with him upon what terms hehim- 
Cofrkoes felf (hould judge reafonable : but Cofrhoes, elated with his 
nvtilhear" fucccfs, and aiming at nothing lefs than the utter deftruc- 
ken to no ^j^^ ^f ^j^g Roman name, returned the ambaffadors the fol- 
lowing blafphemous anfwer : ** Let your mafter know, that 
. I will hearken to he terms, till he has, with all his fub- 
jeAs, renounced his crucified God, and adored th^ Sun^ 
the great god of the Perfians." 

z Theoph. Hift. Mifcel. Ann. i. Heracl. « Zonar. p. 140. 

.* thet^ph. ad Ann. Herac).5. c HHi^MifceUUb. iv. Cedren* 

Ann. Heracl. 6. Leont. in Vit. Joan* Eleemof. 

'. L ' ' Hciadius, 



HericUul-^ 1)j th]$ impbbs ami infisltingsniiWefy ai^ak^!l< tteratUut 
29 k wQrQ from alethargy^ concluded a peace w^b the ratfesa 
king t& tkc Atari \ and having, with the con&nt of the P^^^^f^ 
clergy, ccifijSd into money the gold and filvdr verbis belong- ^'^^^ 
iiig to th(e:churchea» as the tneafuiy was quite, drained^- be 
raifed a powerCurarmy,.con6Ring not only of Romans but 
of Httnnft, Avarty and other barbarous nations. With thefe' 
f«>rce3} he r^blved tO' march in perfon againft Cofrhoes } 
and a^ordingly having appointed his fon to govern in hie 
^feocety ufider the direction of Sergitts the pamarch, and the 
patirkaan iftoiiuiS) a perfbn of great wifdom and experience, 
he fot out firom Conftantiiiople, training on his march fuch Himarcki$ 
of his men as were raw ancH unexpfrienced. In the mea^n' inperfon 
tsme iJaes,. the Perfian gianocal^ n^ had rarvaged all Cap- ^^^^^^ 
padocia, taken by ftorm; the cityr of Ancvra) and penetrated ^^*,* -, 
as far as QaalcedoDy heanng that HeracHus was advaiicing' 
with a numerous army, fent dcp«!ties inviting him to ao 
iajterview, which he hopy^ would end in a Hailing peaee^ be- ^ . \ 
tween the twoempives. The emperor complied wrA hi«P ' ' 

requeft; and beHeving him in eameft, fent fev«»ty pertons « - 

of ^ftinfiion on an embaflV to the king of Perlla : but thefe Thtruh^' 
the Ketfian geaeial, with tne utmoft treachery, loaded with^^ ^j^ ^f 
chikins, and carried ihtoBecfia^where they -were thrown in- ^^ ^ 
toprifos^ ismd treated wilh giifat inhumanity by Oofrboes* ^ 

Sflies met with the puniibmeiit his treacheiy deferved^ ; for* 
the king, incenfed againft him for having feen'the Roman 
omperoi, aad not brought him away prifener witih the reft, 
calefied him to be flayed' alive \ One Sarbaras was aiw 
pointed to command in his room, who, entering Afia it the* 
head of a. numerous armyy* made a dreadful havock in that' 
province* 

Heraclius, in the mean time, purfued his maceh to the* 
confines of Armenia ^ and, having put to flight a party of 
Perfians, who guarded the ftreigfats leading into that pro« 
vince, proceeded towards Pontus. As the year was far HgraeUus 
adieanced, the Perd^ns, imagining he defigned to take up invadts 
his wilitecfquarters in Pontas» withdrew to their's ; a ftep P^^Mj ^^ 
which they had no fooher ^en than Heraclius broke into *|^| i^, 
th^r territories, deftfoyiag all before him with fire and tory^. 
iwjofd. This fodden irruption obliged the Perfians to quit 
Ciliciia, which they had entered, and haAen to the defence 
p£ their own country. .Heraclius,- appri&d of their ap-^ 
proa^b, drew togethei his men difperfed about the country^ x 
aod o^ered them, battle, which they readily accepted^ but 
were entirely defeated, the Romans remaining maners both 

' Theoph. ad Ann. HeracL Cedreni Anna^. Ann* 4. 

Vq*. XV. C of 



1^ The Confianttnqpolitan Hi/lory. 

* of their camp and baggage. The empieror being by the 
feafon prevented from purfuing the advantages of this vic- 
tory, put his forces into winter*quarterst and returned to 
Conftantinople '. Cofrhoes fent, early in the fpring, Sar-^ 
naba^as, or Sarmannzarisi to lay wafte the Roman pro- 
vinces; a motion which obliged Heracllus to quit Con- 
ilantinople, and haften into the £aft« Upon his arrival in' 
Armenia, he difpatched ambaffadors to Cofrhoes, vrith new 
propofals for an accommodation ; which being by the Per- 
iian monarch reje£led vith great pride and arrogancei he 
invaded Perfia anew, took feveral towns, which he levelled 

•with the ground, and ravaged the country without con- 
troul* Bemg informed, that the king lay encamped with 
forty. thoufand ebofen men near the city of Gazacum, or 
Puts Co/'' Qazacotis, he direfted his march thither, with a deGgn to 
rhois to fiirprife him : but Cofrhoes^ receiving timely notice of his 
flights approach, inftead of making the neceflary preparations to 

Ravages f^c^^ve him, fled with precipitation. Upon his retreat, the 
the Perfian emperor entered Gazacum without oppofitlon, where he is 
deMittions. foid, by Theophanes and Cedrenus, to have found the im- 
- • ; ' . menfp treafufes of Croefus king of Lydia, which he feized.* 
iiaving fecured it, with the many rich ornaments of a cc-* 
lebrated temple of the Sun, he fet fire to the city, and 
marching with all poflible expedition in purfuit of the king^ 
arrived at Thebatman, where Theophanes places the above 
mentioned temple. Laying wafte the countries .thnoUgh 
which hepafled, he continued his march to the frontiers 
of Mqdia ; but winter approaching, he thought it adviie- 
able to giyc:<?ver the purfuit* Accordingly, having fet 
ap^.Ft thr.e.e, d^ys to return public thanks for the fucccfsof 
this glorious campaign, and implore the farther proteftion 
of ^eayen, he opened the book of the Gofpelis, purfuant to 
a cuftom .which began to obtain about this time, and ima- 
gining he was enjoined there to winter in Albania, dire£led 

• ' ^is, march to that province. 

In his retreat, the Peffians, defirous of recovering the 
immenfe booty which he carried with him, fell often upon 
An btftmiee \j\^ j-e^f, but were conftantly rcpulfed with great lofs. As 
ofhisgoad- the weather proved very fevere, and the captives, fifty thou- 
fand in numbef, were more affefted with it than the refty 
being accuftomed to a warmer climate, the good-natui-ed 
emperor ordered them all to be releafed without ranfom, 
giving .them. Ijeave to return nnmolefted to their refpeftive, 
^puntries ^ The following campaign proved no lefs fUc« 

« Nicepb. in Heracl. cap. 5. ^ Tbeopb. Ccdren. Niceph* 

Cef^ui 



^e ConftmiinopoUtM Hijory* 19 

Cersftil te tlic Romatis, HeracHus having defeated the ene*. 

my in two pitched battles, and cut off* great numbers of 

them, with their general Safablacas, though the Lazians» 

and other auxiliaries, had fhamefully abandoned him, and 

marched home. Encouraged by this fuccefs, he took the 

field next year early in the fpring, and croffing the Euphrates, 

made himfelf mafter of Samofata, and feveral other places. 

Sarabazas, at the head of a numerous army, attempted to 

check the progrefs of his arms, but was utterly defeated on 

the banks of the Sanis. In this lad battle, the emperof 

gave (ignal proofs of his condu£); and perfonal courage. 

After this viAory, Heraclius took up his winter-quarters at 

Sebaftia, placing his troops in the neighbouring towns* 

Cofrhoes, tranfported with rage, at feeing his armies thud 

fhamefully defeated, feized on the wealth of all the churches 

Within his dominions, and, from hatred to Heraclius, raifed 

a cruel perfecution againft the Catholics, fparing none but 

fuch as embraced the do£fcrine of Neftorius. At the fame 

time, by his ambafladors, he engaged in his caufe the 

Avari, the! Hunns, the Sclavonians, and other barbarous 

nations, who, by invading Thrace, and laying fiege to 

Conftantinople, undertook to divert the emperor from pur- 

fuing the war in Perfia. Heraclius, not ignorant of thefe 

negotiations, though carried on with great fecrecy, divided 

his forces into three armies, of which one was appointed to 

defend the city of Conftantinople ; the fecond, under the 

condu£b of Theodorus, the emperor's brother, was to watch 

the motions of Sais, who threatened to invade Ada ; while 

the emperor himfelf led the third into Lazica, in order to 

invade from thence the Perfian dominions. 

Purfuant to this plan, Heraclius advanced into Lazica, Yr, of Fl« 
where being joined by forty thoufand Chazari, or, as Cedre- 2973* - 
nus calls them, eaftern Turks, he entered Perfia in the depth /^iP' ^*S 
of winter ; and meeting with no oppofition, laid wafte fe- _lllll* 
veral provinces. On the other hand the chagan, or king of tf/jg^^^ * 
the Avari, and the other barbarous nations in alliance with bariansjit 
the king of Perfia, breaking into Thrace, committed dread- downbe* 
ful ravages, and in the end laid fiege to Conftantinople \ M' f**«* 
but being in feveral attacks repulfed by the garrifon, and A^^'^^'^ 
having loft the principal part of their army, they thoyght it forced to 
advifeable to drop the enterprize, and retire. About the raifg tin 
fame time Sais, who had under his command the flower of fi^*» 
the Perfian army, received a dreadful overthrow from Theo- 
doras, who loft but a very fmali number of men. Next 
year Heraclius, invading Perfia in the depth of winter, ad^ 
vanced as far as Nineveh, where he was met by Razaftes, 
to whom Cofrhoes had committed the whole management 

C 2 of 



*tke mpe- of the W2ir. A battle e^Aiipg^ the F^rfians, a&eiii 9n ob- 

ror gains ilinate dispute, were put to flight, and th^r general 

9thtr'viC' was flain, the Romans having loft but fifty mefi on that 

tmes. occa(ion. In this battle the emperor btehavc^ witl^ his ufual 

bravery, having killed three Persian qommandefs with hi$ 

own hand b, Cofrhoes, upon the news of this<iefeat» fled 

(o Seleucia on the Tigris^ and there (hut himfetf up with 

bis wives, children and treafures, whilp Heraclius, having 

now no army to oppofe him, rav^geil the v^q^ ferule pror 

vinces of the Perfian dom^inion^. At Diflagerda be foiind 

the enfigos.and ftands^rds which ^t different times bad been 

taken frpiu the Botmans^ and ip other places refcued nupi- 

bers of Ro.man captives. Ui the mean time S^rbarazes^ to 

^veit Heraclius from ravaging t^erfia, laid (lege to Chalce-r 

4pn ; but after he had continued fome tin^e before the pbce, 

ivithout being able tp reduce it^ Cofrhoes fent private or- 

^rs to Chardarichas, another efiicer, to murder the genera^ 

and lead (be army back into Ferfia : but the king*^ l^tef 

was intercepted^ and brought to the en\perqr'$ (ipn s^t Con- 

ftantinQpIe^ by whojm it was immediately fent to Barbarizes, 

Ontofthe who thereupon revolted with has whple army« About the 

Perfiang4- fame time the king, being taken ilii declared his younger 

w///' ^^ ^^^ Merdafa.his fucceflbr j a difpofition which Sy^oes, ^$ 

eldeft fop, np fooner underfliood than he joined Cli^arda- 

richas. Being aflifted by the Roms^n ^aptive^, whom he fet 

Cofrhoes at liberty purfuant to the advice given him by ^eraclius* he 

depoftd^ feized on his fether^ and loadings him with chains, direw 

^"^/^i him into a dungeon, where he was inhumanly murdered 

^hisfoHSf' ^^^^ Mei:da(a, and his other children, after he bad been, 

roes^ by the orders of his unnatural fop, moft o.utrageoufly in.'i* 

fulted by all the nobility ^. 
v)hamakis SyroeS) thu^ raifed t6 the throne> concluded a perpetual 
peoee luiik pes^ce with HeracUus, upgn terms no lefs honourable than, 
^^ ^^" advantageous to the empire 5 for he reflprcd all the pro- 
"^'" vinces that bad been feized by his predeceflbrs; with three 
hundred enCgns, and the Mrood which was fuppofed to 
have been part of the croCs on which our Saviour died, 
and had been carried by Cpfrhoes in triumph from jerufa** 
Cilem, to Perfia, He likewife ifeJt at liberty all the Roman 
captives, and among the reft Zach^rias, patriarch of Jeru« 
falem. A peace being tl? us concluded* HeracJius return- 
ed to Conftantinopk, which he entered in a kind of , 
triumph » hei«g met at fome diftance by his {on Conijtan- 
ttne* the patriarch, and almoft ^ tl^ ^ob^Hty and pcojxlc, 
u!hp. attended him to the palace with fongs oi^ ti;iumpfa^ and 

4 T^«Qph<r9(} AaM^.^^rail. i}. ^ fh^oph. hgc Ann. ^ Ced^n. 

re- 



The ConfidHttnepnlitan tiiAory. t \ 

fcpfeatcd accbthmatiofts. No prhifec evfet dcfemd \skU 
tcr ef thfe. empire; for, in the (j^ate ©f fix years, be reco- 
vered tne fevfefal provintts ttrtiich had been difmeri^erai 
from it by thfe PcrBans, revtifigH all. the indigrtilies oifer* 
ed tb the Rdman name by that haughty nation, obliged^ 
tiielr king, atid his numerous armies, tb fly before him, 
arid brought the moft fortaidaMe df all the enemies of the 
empire to fdch a low ebb, that they were ftever aftcrwufds 
capable of atterfipting any miemorabJe exploit. Thefe things 
Hcraclius performed, thdtigh, upott his acceffion to the 
empire, he found it over-run by feveral barbarous fiattons, 
the treafury quite draincci, the military drfcipline relaxed, 
and the army' con fitting of ratr and unexperienced levies, 
Ibarce deferving the name of foldiefs. 

Heraclius, having pafled the winter at Conftantinople, 
in the ipring of the following year 628, repaired to Jcrufa- 
lem, carrying with him that part of the crofs which had tieraclm 
been taken by the Perfians (A). From Jerufalem Hera- '^^^^}". 
clius continued his progrefs into the Eaftern provinces, ^raritofi^ 
Uppn his arrival at Hierapolis in Phrygia, he received news rufahtn^ 
of the death of Syroes, the new king of Pcrfia, murdered, 
according to fome, by Barbaras, one of his generals, ac 
cording to others, by his own fpn Adefer, who fucceeded 
him, but was aflaffinated in the (eventh month of his reign 
by Barrazas, whom the PerGans,^ a few months after, dc- 
pofed, and putto death, raifing Barahanes, (he fon of Cof* 
rhbes, to the throne in his room. Barahanes, after a ihort 
reign of feven months, was fucceeded by Hormifda, th^ 
laft Perfian king of the race of Artaxerxes; for, in bis 
reign, the Saracens put an end to the Perfian monarchy, 
and eftablifhed the kingdom of the Arabians in its room. 
From Hierapolis the emperor removed to Edefiaj where 

' (A) He entered the city in CrofsyWhich is celebrated to this 

){reat pomp: and having re- day by the church of Rome, on 

turned in the chief church fo- the fourteenth of September (i)« 

lemn thanks to the Almighty Of the miracles that are faid to 

for the many folemn victories have happened on this occafion, 

he had been pleafed to grant the reader will find a particular 

him, and for choofing him to account in Cedrenus, aadother 

refcue that facred pledge out of ecclcfiaftic writers. When the 

the .hands of the enemies of the ceremony was over, the empe^^ 

Chri^an name, he reftored it, ror publtihed an edi^, baniiliing 

With g>#eat fol^mnity, to its all tbejews from Jerufalem; and 

former place.* Upon this oc- forbidding them, under fevere 

cftfion was ioflituted the fefli«* penalties, to come within three 

val of the £xaltation of the Holy miles of the holy, city* 

OJ^Theopir. Oedrem ad Anit. Nerasl. 19. 

C3 be 



*2 The Confiantinopolitan Htftory^ 

he.r(iceived ambafiadors from the king of India inrtbeEaft, 
and from Dagobert, king of the Franks, In the Weft^ fent 
' . tp congratulate him on his late fuccefs againft the Perfians, 

and to court his friendfhip and alliance^. While the en^- 
peror continued at EdeiTa, Athanafius, the patriarch of the 
Jacobites, a man of great addrefs, having infinuatedhimfelf 
into his favour, brought him by degrees to acknowlege but 
one will in Chrifl: ; a circumftance which created a danger-^ 
ous fchifm in (he dhurchi and gave rife to warm difputes, 
Heraclius Heraclius ever after maintaining it to the utmoft of his power, 
V?^^a' ^^^ countenancing the Monothelites, that is, thofe who 
of the Mo- sic^iiowleged but one will in Chrift. This herefy, how- 
nothiiites. ever, did not prove fo' prejudicial to the church as the 
peftilent and impious do^rine of the impoftor Mohammed, 
Mohammid which was firft broached in the rtign of Heraclius. The 
preaches impoftor died this year, the twenty-firft of the reign of 
trin-^ d ^eraclius, and 630th of the Chriitian sera, after having 
reduces reduced, with the affiftance of the rabble, whom he had 
,idecca find feduced, and of the Saracens, who had joined him, the 
Medina* cities of Mecca and Medina, and part of Arabia. Mo- 
hammed, who, by a double ufurpation, had declared him- 
felf both the king and prophet of the Saracens, was fuc« 
ceeded by Eubebezer^ his kinfman, who reduced great 
part of Perfia, and breaking into Paleftine, laid wafte the 
territory of Gaza, after having defeated and cut in pieces 
the governor of that province, with all his troops. 
Yr. of Fl. E.ubebezer dying in the courfe of the following year, was 
A ^r^f. fucceeded by Haumar, who made himfelf mafter of fioftra, 
U.C Mp '^^^ feveral other cities of Arabia, and gained a complete 
* .viftory over Theodorus, the emperor's brother. Heraclius 
^ he Sara- appointed Boanes to command in his room, and at the fame 
censover- time detached Theodorus Sacellarius into Arabia. The 
come /eve- Jitter ^as met near Emefa by the Saracens, under the com- 
^^in^eT ?"^"d of Haumar; but he prudently declined an engage-- 
ment, being informed, that the emperor had commanded 
Boanes, who lay encamped at Damafcus, to join him. In 
the mean time Heraclius, dreading the iffiie of the war, 
leaving Edpffa, haftened to Jerufalen>, and repaired from 
thence to Conftantinople, carrying with him the crofs, and 
whatever ejfe was of value in the city, which, he feared, 
would foon fall into the enemy's hands. Boanes having 
Defeat the engaged the Saracens, was by them entirely defeated. After 
Romaftit this viSory they made themfelves mafters of Damafcus $ 
^ /fl*^ 3„ j^ advancing from thence into Phoenicia, reduced that 
'''* province without meeting with- the leaft oppoGtion. Hau<» 



meetmg 
i Theophi Ann^ iti HeraqL Aimoin« lihi iv. cap* zi. 



I«ar, 



The CbnfiantinopoUtan Hift&ry* 

mar» entouraged by this fuccefs, took the -field ^^i\fntt% 
fpring ; and dividing his- numerous army intQ two bodies, . 
fent one to invade £gypt» andled the other in perfon againft 
Jerufalem. They were mpt upon the borders of Egypt by 
Cyrusy bifhop or Alexandria, who, by promiGng m the 
name of the people to pay them an annual penfion of two 
hundred thoufand denarii, prevailed uppn them to fpare 
the /Country, and retire. This agreement was obferytd for 
three years, during which th^ Saracens never offered to mo« 
left the Egyptians. , . . 

The emperor being advifed to break the agreement, one 
Manuel, by birth an Armenian, was appointed governor of 
Egypt, and fent thither with a ftrong body of troops ; fo 
that the commiffioners from the Saracens^ when they came, 
to demand the ufual penfion, were received with contempt 
and difdain by the governor, who told them, that he.wa» 
not a priefl;, but a Roman general, at the bead of an army, 
and therefore would not fubmit to fuch ignominious con- 
ditions. The Saracens, provoked at this anfwer, flew to ^^^ of Al- 
arms ; and invading Egypt) put Maauel to flight, and . ^^\ 
made thetnfelves matters of the whole country. The em- t/.C-'itlti 
peror, not having fufficient ftreneth to drive them put, fent - 
Cyrus to them, ipromifing tQ fubmit to the former agree* V^^ re- 
ment, provided they withdrew out of Egypt* But the Sa- ^«^' ^gyp^ 
racens refufed to quit, upon any terms, their new conqueft \ ^^ ^'''^ 
The iofs of Egypt, which had continued fubjefb to the em- 
pire ever fince the time of Auguftus^ happened in the 
twenty-fifth year of Heraclius's reign, and 634th of the 
Cbriftian aenu Egypt being thus reduced,. the troops which 
had been employed in. that expedition were by Haumar 
fent into Syria ^ which province they conquered in the 
(pace of two years, making themfelves matters of all the 
ftrong places there, and of Antioch itfelf, the metropolis 
of the £aft* Haumar, in the mean time, entering Palef- 
tine, marched without oppofi.tion to Jerufalem, which citv 
he took in 636, after two years ficge. Thus were the moft J^^^iT 
wealthy provinces of the empire torn from it by the Sara- th/stj^tr 
cens, hitherto looked upon with a contempt fuitsu>le totheir ans. 
original. . Heraclius, who wanted neither courage nor abi- 
lities to check the progrefs of this new ^nemy, was fo 
employed with unfeafonable difputes about religion, with 
public feftivals and entertainments, that he had not time, 
or perhaps was unwilling, to refle£k on the dangers that 
threatened hjm. The ecclefiattical writers look upon his 
fupine and unaccountable fecurity, as a puniQiment inflid* 

k Thcopb. ad Ann. Heracl. 14, 15* 

C 4 ed 



/ 



14 ^^ Cmfimifu^mi Hijkty. 

td ap6n bim by Heaven for coirtitenandng the MoiiotlieA 
Yr. of Fl. Ikes, and p^eribcuting the Catholics ; fori tiot fatisfiod wkh 
A 'd ^ holding the do^rine of thofe herctit^B hrmfeif* 4ie endgan^ 
y'c^Moo! ^o'''*^'* ^0 cftaWi* '^t in all the provinces of the empire, hf, 
; ' ' the famous edii^ called ecthefis, or exfiofitioo : biit Wore 

Ueracfiui he could put this defign in execntion^ he died of a dropfy^ , 
^*h which ^as attended with ftraage and unaccounttible ifoa^ 

HemcUuS) -^ho had reigned thirty years^ was faceeeded 

6y his fon Conftantine, who died after a (hort reign -off fe" 

ten motitbs) poifohed, as was fuppoikd, by his ftep^mo^er 

Martina^ to make room for her own fen Heracieoaas ; who 

was accordingly proclaimed) and crowned with the ufual 

folemnity. He had not poflefied the empire qoite fix 

months. When the Senate revolting, idepoied him ; and after 

having cut Off his nofe^ Mid pulled out Martina's tongue, 

£snt them both into banifiimenc. Pyrrhus, th^ heretical 

patriarch of CoaftantinopIC) (»ppofed to have been privy «» 

the ^eath of Conftancine, abandoning his fee, fled «nt» 

Africa. The fenato^ having thus delivered the empire* from 

CptJIam , the ufurper Herecleonas^ advanced Conftans, tne fon of 

4i^^^^J Conftantine, and grandfon of Hemclius, «o die throne, 

imp^r^^ The firft years of this prince's reign are ahnoft barren of 

events: Theophanes, and the other Greek wricerBi- only 

t<lls us, that in his fecond yeiO' Hanmar begati to build a 

temple at Jerufalem ; that in his third happened an eclipfe 

of the fun, and violent ftorms ip his fixdi ; which weoe 

looked upon as the fore-runners of more violent eoncnf- 

4r«V*«ji- fions : ^at fame year the Saracens, not fatisfied with Syria, 

\Z%ra^ Mef<^otamla, Egypt, Phoemcia, Arabia, and Paleftine, 

€tns, with ^^6 li^ ^ lof rent into Africa ; and having defeated lihe 

tkeijUands impdridlprefed, by name Qregory, made themfdves maf-^ 

•/ ^yprui^ ters <)f i^hdt exteafive and fruitful country. Next year Ma- 

^^dRhaJ ^^^^ ^^ Mahuvias, one of their captains, with a great fleets 

^* : "' fell upon the iiland of Cyprq? ; which he eafily reduced, 

and laid in aOies the city of Conftantia. From Cyprus he 

failed to the iiland of Aradus, which he took, toge^er with 

the city, and from thence (Peering his courfe to Rhodes, 

made htmfelf mafter of that iiland, defttoying the famous 

coloffus of the Sun, one thoufand three hundred and fixty * 

years after it had been fet up by Laches or Chares* 

Jrmittfa While Mahuvias was thus employed in the ifland of 

iauiwafle, Rhodes, his countrymen, breaking into Armenia, laid wafte* 

that country far and wide, the emperor in the mean time 

continuing idle at Conftantinople, or bufying bimfelf only 

^ Theopfa* ftd Axtn* HeracL $i* 

in 



10 OMrtters of relif^te, aiid f)ronKniag^ &§' bis graadfaibe^ 
btnl dotoe, the doSrwe df the IMbnatbslkea^ irhich he had 
kDbib6d from his Irdzncf^. His tufim lud^ige&oe^ etiooo* 
rtgeiL MdbufidB ^ make an attempt nppn OoiitftantiiiopiBi 
Wkh jAis view he iitttd Dtit a ^roAg :4tet at Tr^lisiH 
Pbeentciai and would in all Ukeltfaood have fueceeded, had 
be not J^eeh prevented by two brothcx-$» the foas of a Ore« 
ctan ^ttknpeter^ who having fouad mcaas to break open tbs 
public prifon^ crowded with Ghriftian captiires, with AeU 
affiftaaee killed the aoneras* as the Saraeess called him, or 
the goviSraof of the place, fet fire to the fleet* deftrojr^ 
all the naval preparattonsi and then cfcaped in a fliip |>k'o-< 
vided for that purpofe^ Mahuvias, having with locredibM 
expedition equipped another fleet, iailcd to Phobnice id Lf^ 
cia* nH&ere he engaged and defeated the imperial tuffyi tkegmp^- 
comoimnded by Conftans in perfon, who with difficulty df-* r$r^4Mui 
caped in difguife to Gonftantinoplc °*. In order to retrieiw defioiidm 
bis reputation, be marched the foliowtng year againfl: di« 
Sdavii or Sclavonians^ who had fevzed on (hat countryi 
which to this dav is called from them Sdavonia. The em« 
per^r defeated them in feveral encounters ; but not being 
able to drive them quite out, he returned to Conftantinof^e, 
where be found adxbafladors from the Saracens^ now di^ 
vided among themfelves, come to folicit a peace; which Apiac§ 
the indolent and unwariike prince readily granted^ yieMing nnith th4 
to them the many provinces they had feized, upon tltotr Saraans. 
payii^ to him and his fucceflTors, by way of tribute^ a thou** 
£uid fuimmi a year, with a horfe and a flave. 
The emperor, looking with a jealous eye upon his bro^ 
I ther ThebdoGus, who, on iiccount of his virtue and inte« 

I tP^9 ^^ the darling of the people^ caufed him to be or* 

dained deacon, and received the hoiy cup at his hands; 
but bis fears not being yet appcafed^ he <»rdered him fooit 
after to be murdered ; an order which was no fooner exe* nt tmpt^ 
Ciiied than he was feized with dread and terror, imagining rormmrdin 
diat he fiiw his brother codftantly fl:imdifig before kim, Uritb ^^ ^^thir. 
a cup of blood id his* band, commanding him to quench 
his inhumati thir ft* Haunted and terrified by this fancied 
apq[>arition^ and the reoiorfe of bis cOnfciencc, he left Gon« 
ftantisnofley where the murder had been committed) tt^ 
cepaired to fiicily* tefoking to transfer the feat of die ei^«^ 
pire to fi^cacttfc^ but the inhabitants of Conftantiui^pki 
applied of his defign, detaiiied his n^fc and children. 
Fftim this time -forW^ard he wandered, like a fecond Caiii^ 
froimplafie to plate.; but bis guilt piufujng bim 'wfaither-< 

B T^ofkbi ad Ann. C^ft. 15-^18. 

foever 



26 ^ • The Cof^antinppoUtan H^ory. 

foever he wdnty he became an obje£t of compaffion eYen to 

his moft inveterate enemies. In the mean time Mahuviasy 

vrho had caafed his xoropetitor Hali to be murdered, and 

^ now reigned alone, without any regard to the late treaty, 

Thi Sara- ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ '^^ ^^ '^7 wafte the Roman territories, who 
tins ra" advancing asi far as Chalcedon, and having made himfelf 
^age the mafter of Amorium, a ftrong city of Phrygia, left a gar- 
Roman . rifo^ j^ ^^e place, and returned with an immenfe booty to 
urnt$rtts. ^^^ father. Amorium, however, was foon after furprifed and 
retaken by Andreas, one of the emperor's officers, who put 
all the Saracens he found in the place to the fword. 
^hi mpi' During the emperor's ftay in Sicily, a war broke out be* 
ror'sunfue* tween the Franks and Lombards 5 which he looking upon 
w'r' '^ ** * favourable opportunity of driving the latter out of Italy, 
Talnpthl fitted out a formidable fleet, and landing atTarentum, march- 
Lombards, cd dire£i]y to lay fiege to Beneventum, taking Luceria, 
and feveral other cities belonging to the Lombards, in bis 
way : but Grimoald, duke of Beneventum, marching, af- 
ter a fignal vi£tory over the Franks, to the relief of the 
place, the emperor, raifing the fiege in great bafte, retired 
to Naples. Not long after, a^ body of twenty thoufand Ro- 
mans was almoft entirely cut oflv with Saburrus their ge- 
neral, by Romoald, the fon of Grimoald ». After this de- 
feat the emperor, laying afide all thoughts of difpoifeffing 
the Lombards of that part of Italy which they occupied, 
took a progrefs to Rome, which he entered in great pomp, 
being met fix miles from the city by VitaKanus, biihop ot 
the pliace, and his clergy. After he had continued twelve 
days in Rome, and caufed the moft remarkable rarities he 
found there to be removed to Conftantinoplc, he returned 
to Naples, and from thence to Syracufe : here he refided 
Hisava' for the fpace of five years, oppreffing his people with 
^'^^' enormous exa£lions, and even plundering the chutches of 

their rich ornaments and facred veflels. 
Yr. of Fl. Having thus rendered himfelf odious and contemptible 
3016. to all his fubjefls, one Andrew, the fonof Troilus, refolved 
A. D. 668. jQ rid the world of fo great a plague ; and accordingly dif- 
U.C. i4'6. patched him in the bath of Daphne at Syracufe, by repeated 
He is mur" ^'^ws on the head, with the veflcl that was made ufe of to 
d rtd. pour hot water upon him. Thus periflied Conftans IL in 
the twenty-feventh year of his reign, and 668 of the Chrif- 
tian aera. Upon his death the people of Syracufe proclaim- 
ed Mezizius, by birth an Armenian, who had no other 
qualifications to recommend him to their favour but the 
cpmejinefs of his perfon. The news qf his promoti(^n no ' 

^ « i'' Paul; Dlac, lib. iv« cap. 6. 

' ' fooner 



The Conftantinopoliian Hiftory. 27 

fooner reached Conftantinople* than Conftantine, the Ton 
of the deceafed emperor, having with the utmoft expedi** 
tion equipped a fleet, failed to Sicily^'and having defeated, 
taken, and put to death the ufiirper, caufed himfelf to be 
' acknowleged emperor in his. room". He muft have con- ///j/j- 
tinued fome time in the Weft, fettling the provinces that m^de tm^ 
were ftill fubjedl to the empire there ; for we are told by Pinr. 
2k>naras» that he was by the people of Conftantlnople fur- 
named Pogonatus, becaufe, at his departure from thence, 
only a little down appeared on his chin ; whereas he re- 
. turned with a beard. The people of Conftantinople receiv- 
ed him, on his return from Sicily, with loud acclamations ; 
but he had not been long in the city when fome, mifled by a 
ftrange notion, that as there were three perfons in the Tri- 
nity, fo there ought to be three emperors on the throne, 
prefled him to take his two brothers, Tiberius and Heraclius, 
for his partners in the empire. This dodirine alarmed the 
young emperor, who having got the broachersof it into his 

fower, put them to death, and caufed the nofes of his two 
rothers to be cut off, that deformity rendering them in- 
capable of the empire. While thefe things pafled at Con- 
ftantinople, the Saracens, (entering Africa, where the peo- 
ple had infulted fome of their garrifons, committed many Several 
barbarities; and having ravaged the country, returned with provinces 
eighty thoufatid captives. The following year they jtnade ^^'^^gfd 
a defcent upon Sicily, took and plundered the city of Sy- ^ ^** 
racufe, and over-ran the whole ifland, deftroying every 
thing with fire and fword. They laid wafte in like man- 
ner Cilicia ; and having pafled the winter at Smyrna, en- 
tered Thrace in the month of April of the following year 
672, and laid fiege to Conftantinople ; but were received tkeyhe^ 
v>ith fuch vigour and refolution by the emperor, who had fiege Com- . 
already, with indefatigable pains, reformed both the Q,oy\txfionunopk\ 
and army, that they thought it advifeable to withdraw in 
the month of September toCyzicus. However, in the en- 
fuing fpring they renewed the fiege, continuing thus to at- 
tack the city in the fummer, and retire to Cyzicus in the 
winter, for the fpacc of feven years, fay the Greek writers, 
though from fome of them it appears, that in the fourth 
year of the fiege, a peace was concluded between th,e Ro- 
mans and Saracens. 

In this long fiege the Saracens loft incredible numbers 
of men, and many fliips confumed by fea-fire, as it was 
jcalled, becaufe it burnt under water, being the invention 
of one Callinlcus, a native of Heliopolis in Egypt.. The 

Theoph. Anns^K ad Ann* Conit 27, Paul Dlac. lib. v. prope fin. 

enemy 



28 ' ^^ Conjiantinopolitan Hf/fary. 

httdrvp enemy defpairitig oF fucCefd, abandoned ihe cilterprizi; 
tkai'iutir* but as they were returning borne, their fleet ^^as JBiJ|)- 
^riK/. wrecked off the Scyllsean promontory. About the faixle 
A?*^ '* time three of the em|>cror*8 lieutenants, Florus, Peironius, 
wichJ and CyprianuSy gained a fignal vldiory in Syria over Sul- 
Md their phianus, who commanded there a numerous body of Sara-. 
arw^ di» cens ; but loft in the engagement thihy thoufand of his 
fiattd. inenP. Thefe misfbrtunes encouraged the Mardaites, or 
Marohites, to feize on Mount Libanus, where they for- 
tified themfelves ; and being joined by multitudes of Chrif- 
tian captives flocking to them from all parts, they reduced 
the whole country between Mount Taurus and Jerufaleint 
made frequent incurfions kito Syria, and fo barafled and 
terrified the Saracens, that Mahuvias, not thinking htmfelf 
able to contend with them and the Romans at the fame 
time, fent ambaflladors to treat of a peace with Conftan- 
tine ; which Was concluded upon tne following terms : 
^keyfn' I. That it (hould be inviolably obferved by both nations for 
€lude a the fpace of thirty years. 2. That the Saracens fliould re- 
fiaettMtk ^ain the provinces they had feized. '3. That they (hould 
i imp r . p^y yearly, by way of tribute, to the emperor and nis fuc- 
ceflTors, three thoufand pounds weight of gold, fifty flaves> 
and as many choice horfes. This peace was thought, as 
affairs then ftood, very advantageous and honourable to 
the empire. 
7i#. Im/« It was fcarce concluded when the Bulgarians, leaving 
garians their native feats on the banks of the Volga or Bulga, 
^#fl* into whence fome think they took their name, advanced as far 
''*''* as the Danube, which they paflTed without oppofition, to 
the number of one hundred thoufand ; and entering the 
territories of the empire, ravaged the countries through 
which they pafltd. The emperor fent a confiderable army 
againft them ; which being put to flight by the Barbarians, 
be chofe rather to conclude/ a peace, by promifing to pay 
* them an annual penfion, than to purfue an expenfive and 
doubtful war. The emperor, being now diverted by no 
ward either foreign or domeftic, laboured, with indefati- 
gable pains to eftablifli in the church that peace and tran« 
*fhtfixth quility whicb reigned in the ftate. For this purpofe he 
etcument- ^SkmhXtA the fixtU general or oecumenical council, which 
Cmfiantmi ^^* opened at Conftantinople on the twenty-fecond of No- 
<6#i. Vember of the year 680. In this council, the doftrihe of 

the Monotbelites was condemned, and tranquility in i, 
great degree, reftored to the church. Conftantine enjoyed 
the' reijfiaining part of his reign in that peace and quiet 

If Theoph* Ce'difen. iid Ann. Cohfl. 5. 

which 



Tie ConftMlinopoliUm Hifiaty^ - 9 j 

vhicb bis pLetf* jufttce, wd moderation deTenredy the 
Saraqens celigio^ily obferving the treaty between them aad 
the emgiri:^ and the Lombards beingi by their inteftine 
broilf^ diverted frpm extending their conquefts in Italy* 
In the beginning of .the year 6|t7, he was feized- with a 
lingering diftemper^ of which he died in the month of 
September, after having reigned feventecn years and fomc 
months "1. 

H^ was fucceeded by his foa Jpftiniafi| a youth but Yr« of Fl* 
fixtem years old* With him AbdelmeJiedi, the new prince 3535* 
of the Saracens, confirmed the pc;a<3e npa^e with the eayure, ^^' ^^^* 
and at the fame time propoied by his ambafiadors a new ' 
trea^ja ^ virtue of which Juftinian was to reprefs the Maro* jufiimam 
nites* who, by the frequent excurfions from Mount ^iba- //• 
nus, greatly harafled the Saracens ; and Abdelmelech to pay 
him for his fervice a thouC^nd nummi a day, a hprfe atui a^ 
l|ave. To this treaty the young unwary prince readliy 
agreed, and immediately difoatched Magiftrianus, with a 
cholen body of troops, againft the Maronites, who he over- 
c.ame, and put out of a condition of molefting th^ Saracens 
for a long timp after. In the fecond year of his reign he 
Inarched xx^ perfoa againft the Bulg^nansj who had been - 
allowed to fettle in Lower M<siia« from them afterwards 
called Bulgaria, and, without any regard to the treaty con- 
cluded with them by his father, ravaged their country, and 
took feveral of their ftrong places : but the Bulgarians^ foon Put t§ 
recovering from their confternation, drew together their ^jS^ fy 
fprces, feu upon the emperor, jdrove hii^a out of their coun- . ^'4^* 
try, and obliged him to abandon the places, and reftore 
t^e captives he had taken* He was attended with fuccefs 
againft the Sclavi or SclavoniaUs,. wh9^ he defeat^ed in fe- 
veral battles. Thefe vi£b>rie8 encouraged him to break the 
treaty he had lately concluded with tn^ Saracens, though 
Abdelmelech had faithfully perfo^-med every thing required 
of him by that agreement, and did all that lay in his power 
to prevent a rupture. 

At length, finding the emperor obftinately ben^ upon a Hff^i^j 
war, he raifed a powerful army^ and gave the command of nvar upon 
it to one of his generals named Mohammed ; who, caufing the Sara* 
the articles of the treaty to be carried before his men on '^^' 
the point of a fpear, met the empei;or in the neighbourhood 
of Sebaftopolis. In the engagement that enfued he was 
obliged to give ground, ai)d retire to his camp, where he 
muft have periflied with hunger, or fubmitted to the con- 
queror, bad he not in the mean time gained over the com- 

9 Cedren, ad Anni Conft« 27. Nicepb. cap. 3. 

mandei: 



3° 



Dtfeaied 



\ 1 



Kenders 
himftlf 
odious. 
The cruit" 
ty of his 
tmnifitrs* 



Orders a 

f,eneral 
m^jfacre. 



The Conjlanttnopolitan Hiftdty. 

mandcr of the Sclavi in tlie cmpcrorV fervic^ ; whoft trn^' 
cxpefted defertion, with twenty thoufand of his men, caif- 
cd fuch a confternation in the Roman army, that they iih- 
mediately fled, and were purfued with great flaughter by- 
the enemy. The emperor with much difEculty reached 
Leucate, where^ tranfpprted with rage, he caufed the 
Sclavi, or Sclavini, who hdd continued with him, to the 
number of ten thoufand, to be cut in pieces, with their 
wives and children, and their bodies to be thrown into the 
fca. From Leucate he returned to Conftantinople, where, 
without betraying the leaft concern for his late difgrace, or 
attempting to reftrain the vidorious Saracens, by whom 
the abandoned provinces were haraffed in a mod cruel man- 
ner, he was wholly taken up in embellifhing his metropolis 
with new buildings. Among the reft he erefted a magni- 
ficent bancjueting-houfe, from him called Juftinianeum, 
and a theatre near the palace, caufing a church, dedicated 
to the virgin Mary, to be pulled down to make room for it. 
This facrilegious encroachment gained him the ill-will 
of the people, whofe avcrfion was heightened by the ty-' 
rannical, arbitrary, and cruel tonduffc of his two chief mi- 
nifters, Stephen and Theodotus. The former, by nation 
a Perfian, caufed feveral perfons of diftinftion to be put to 
death, upon fufpicions altogether groundlefs ; and in the* 
end arrived at fuch a pitch of arrogance, as to threaten in a 
moft difrepefbful manner Anaftafia Augufta, the emperor's 
mother. Theodotus was by profeffion a monk ; but being 
by the emperor taken out of his cell, and ehtrufted with 
great power, he exceeded in cruelty Stephen himfelf, cauf- 
ing, under various pretences, fuch of the nobility as feem- 
ed to defpife him, to be put to no lefs cruel than ignomi- 
nious deaths. The emperor, dreading the dangerous effefls 
of the hatred which the people had on feveral occafions 
fhewn to him, and his two favourite minifters, refolved to 
be beforehand with them ; and accordingly ordered Ste- 
phen the eunuch, and Rufus, one of his generals, to fall 
upon the inhabitants of Conftantinople in the night -time, 
and maffacre them in their houfes, beginning with the pa- 
triarch Callinicus. But this inhuman maffacre was hap- 
pily prevented in the following manner : Leontius, a pa- 
trician, and formerly commander qf the forces in the Eaft, 
after he had been by the jealous emperor kept three years 
in prifon, was at this time fet at liberty, and appointed go- 
vernor of Greece, with orders to embark immediately for 
his government ; but while he was waiting for a favourable 
wind feveral of his friends came to vifit him, and among 
the reft two monks, Gregory the fupcrior of a i3ionaftery, 

and 



The ConftantinapoUtM Eiftory. 3 f 

and Paul, who, as tfaey were {killed in aftrology, fays Ce«* 
drenus, had foretold him, while be lay in prifon, expecting 
every moment his laft doom, that he fliould attain to the 
empire l>efQre his death. Thefe, upon his expoftulating 
with them for having deceived him with vain promifes, en-^ 
couraged him to lay hold of the prefent opportunity to make 
good their predidiion \ which^ they faid, he might ea(ily 
do, the emperor being univerfally abhorred, both by the 
nobility and people, who were ready to receive him as their 
deliverer. Leontius relifhed the fcheme, and refolved to . 
execute it without delay. Putting himfelf at the head of 
thofe foldiers who had been appointed to attend him into 
Greece, he broke open the prifon, and being joined by 
many others who had been long detained there, led them 
to the forum, inviting the. people as he went to meet him 
in the church of St. Sophia; which. being foon crolided, 
the patriarch appearing, cried aloud to the afiembled mul- 
titude, '^ This is the day which the Lord hath made." 
The people, thus animated by the patriarch, proclaimed 
Leontius emt)eror, and haftening to the palace, feized on Yr. oF FU 
Juftinian, carried him to the circus, and there, after many 3045* ' 
indignities, cut off his nofe, and with one voice baniflied ^'P' ^97- 
him to Cherfona. At the fame time Theodotus and Ste- * ^^S* 
phen were dragged to the forum, where they were burnt jufl'tman 
alive ^ This revolution happened in the tenth year of ^y^i*'^ dtpojed^ 
tinian's reign, and 697 of the Chriftian sera. 

The firft year of Leontius^s reign was not difturbed by Leontius. ^ 
any foreign wars, or domcftic traubles* In the fecond, Ser- 
gius, who commanded the Roman troops, in Lazica, be- 
trayed that province to the Saracens, who invaded Africa, *rh$ Sara" 
made themfelves mailers of Carthage, and over-ran. the ^^n^maf" 
whole country; but they were driven out by John the pa- ^^J^^ 
trician, a man of great valour aiid experience in war,- 
whom the emperor had fent againft them. The Saracens, 
to repair the great loiTes they had, fuftaixled, equipped an- 
other fleet, and returning to Africa, obliged John to fly to the 
fea-coaft, where he embarked with the troops under his 
command for Conftantinople. The fleet having touched Yr. of FI« 
at Crete, fome of the chief oflicers, apprehending the em- 3<^4S* 
peror would call them to account for thus abandoning ^•^' ^^^• 
Africa to the enemy^ prevailed upon the foldiers to revolt, '^^^* 

and beftow the imperial dignity upon Apfima^, one of the LgQ^tius 
generals of Leontius. Apfimar, or, as he was afterwards^ defeated, 
called, Tiberius, readily accepted the diadem ; then failing ond Apfi* 

without lofs of time. to Conftantinople, he furprifcd the ^^^*^ 

* emperor^ 

' Th^opb, Cedreni Ann. Jull. iq. Niccph« cap. 4, 

city, 



39 flh CdM/i^mti^fop^ka9 Hijimy. 

shy, t^ok Leontft»prif(boerf anil bainn^ eauj«d his ndfd %• 
^ cot ofi^ eoiifiqeds him to a mon^Aerfin Dalmati^, afici; 
be faad reign^ ficaose thuee yeaxs. 

Tiberius^ tfaiu raMt^'tothe emplse, ient liif broliha? He-* 

facliya into Cappadada, to watcfa tbe motions of tbfi Saxow 

C€na« He, taking advantage of fome divHiona that reignfid 

s^mong them, penetralied into ^yria.a$£ai4r sis Samofala, -woAt 

iag all' before kim, and rttiuoed to Cappadocia loaded witb 

^Irtdthou" ^*^J^ ^^^^' hasring pat to tho fword, ^s wc arc told, two 

fond Sara- bnndred tboufand of the enemy* Notwithftaading tbiskC^ 

cfHs cut in the Savacens broke into tbe Roman tsTntories the foHowing 

fiicts.^ year, and laid fiege Ho Antaradus in Syrian bot not being 

:(ble to mailer tbat pbcei tb^y fitt ^Kmti before Mop^weftia 

Armenia in Ciiicia^ ^i4iidi tbey reduced and fbitified* lo tbe fowtk 

hetr^ed to y^^^ ^ ^j^j^ reign, BoaneS| ftirnamed Hcpt^dsetnon, bc-< 

^^^ . ' irayed Armenia to tbe Saraoens \ and Tibaciusi banifbod 

FliiiippicuSy a patficiaen, to in^om be was chiefly; indiebtfid 

for bis promotion, into OephaieHia^ for relating a dream, 

vhich the em|>eFor interpreted to his own djUadvai^tagiew 

Tbe nobility of Armenia^ taking arms ^gasnfl tbcir ne^ 

xi^aft«ra» dro?e them out with gnsat flaogfater, and feat to 

Tiberius, demanding bis alfiftanco : bub in the jnean titno 

Mohammed, entering Armenia< with a mi^ty army, recon 

'vcfcd tbe country ; ' a^d having got tbe a/athors of die vcn 

iKdttitktobis power, burnt them alive. Encouraged by this 

fucceis, they iiwaded CiHcia onoe more, under tbe cottdu£b 

•^ ^^ . of Azar j but were, to the number of ten thoafand, either 

G&c^ '* ^^^ *" pieces by Hieraclius, or taken prifoners, and feat ip. 

chains to CbnftsuijLinople *• In the mean time Jofiinian, the 

depo&d emperor^ vbo.bad been confined to a moaaftery at 

' Cher£(Kna, having, betrayed a great defire of recovering his 

tom^att dignity, the inhabitants of the place, dreading dke 

' i(idignation of Tiberius, and the evils attending a cl^il wsir^ 

i^efolved to prevent them^ by killing Jufkinian, or fending 

him in chains to Conftantinople ; bill be, fyfpe/fiing their 

defigQy fled privately to tbe cbagan, ov king of the Chazari> 

who received him in a manner fuitabk to his rank, an<k 

gave him his fifter Theodora in marriage. TbaX prince be* 

ing foo;i after gained by the rich prefents and birge pro^r^ 

so&s (^ Tiberius, undertook either to deliver up to bimtb^^ 

i|nfortunate prinoe alive, or to fend hin» bis head* Tbedb% 

fign was revealed by one of the king'^ d<>m^i^^ ^ Theo*^ 

d^a, and by her to her hyflund, who. thereupon fled tQi 

Trebelis, king of the fiulgariaas, by >lebom be wad recerired* 

wiitih great deznoaftrations of 'kiadaefii. 

• Tlieopb. Cedren. ad Aqu, Tib. Apf. j, 4,^5. 

Trebelis 



^ Cgnftdntinopolitdtt kijlot^. ^^ 

Tfe1)elis not only entertained the fwgititrc trtnct witH TrebiUst 
extraordinary magnificence, but having raifed a powerful kin^ofthi 
army, marched with him direftly to Conftatitinople, and ^«^<?^- 
laidfiege to that mctrof)olis, the inhabitants, who looked '^T^^r^jf^g 
upon their city aa impregnable, reviling both princes from taujiof 
the thralls; but the third day of the fiege, fome Bulgarians Jufiwiant 
having got into the city through an aqUeduft, opened the 
gates to the reft \ a circumftance which Tiberius no fooner 
knew, than he fled with his treafures to Apollonias, leaving tush h r#- 
Juftinian once more matter of the imperial city and the em- Jfored^ 
pire. Bfeitig thus reftored to his former dignity, he dif- 
miffed Tfebfelte, loaded ^ith rich prefent^, and beftowed 
upon him part of the Roman dominions, called afterwards 
Zagoria. Having, after a diligent fearch, got into hij 
jfower Tiberius Leontius, by xvhom he had been depoffed, 
and Heraclius, the brothfer of Tiberius, he led the twO' 
former in triumph through the city, and carrying them to 
the^cirdus, beheld the (hews fitting on the imperial throney 
with his feet upOn their necki^ the Inconflrant multitude f^- 
peating iri the mean time that verfe of thfepfalmift, "Thou 
(halt treid upon the lion and adder." After this infulting leontiut 
pageantry, he caufed their hfeads, and that of Heraclius, to and libtm 
be cut off. As for CalJbicus the patriarch, he ordered his riusfutf 
eyes to be put out, and then WiAed him to Rome, that ^^^* 
he nfiight have the mortification of depending for his fub* 
Tiftence upon the bifliop of tfhat city, whofe authority he 
bad always o^fokA to the utmoft of his powers The em- 
peror, having now got rid of thofe whom he moft dreaded, 
began to rage with implacable fury againft all who had ad'- 
hered to them, putting to death many citizens and fol- • 
diers, and difpeopling, in the heat of his revenge, whol6 
provinces at once. 

In the third year of his reftofation, unmindful of the obli* 
gations which he owed to Trebelis, king of the Bulgarians, 
he breke the alliance concluded with that prince, and -in- 
vaded Thrace, at the head of a numerous army, with a de* 
fign to recover the country he had yidded to him : but he JufliniaM 
was attended with no better fuccefs than his ingratitude diftaud ^ 
defervcd, his army being utterly defeated, and himfelf '^^ *«(?«- 
dbliged to make his efcape in a light veflfel to Conftantinople. '''*'''* 
Next year he equipped a powerful fleet, not with a defign to 
oppole the Bulgarians, v^ho ravaged the provinces of the 
empire without cpntroul, but to be revdnged on the inha- 
bitants of Cherfona, and the Bofporans, who had refolved! 
to difpafch him, or deliver him up to Tiberius, while he 

t Theopb. Cedrcn. td Anm Titib. ApT. 7, 'Vktt^t cap. 5. ' 

Vol. XV. D lived 



34. The Conjlantimpolitdn Hyiory, 

lived in exile among them. On board this fleet was em«i 
His cruiltj. barked a numerous army, with cxprefs orders to put all the 
inhabitants of thofe parts to the fword, without diflin£tion 
of fex or age, of guilty or innocent. Thefe cruel orders 
were executed with the utnu)ft barbarity ; multitudes of 
that unhappy people were put to the fword ; fome were by 
the cruel foldiery roafted alive, and others caft into the 
fea. The children however were fpared ; a circumftance 
which the inhuman emperor no fooner underftood, than, 
tranfported with rage, he difpatched frefli orders to his of- 
ficers, commanding t;hem not to leave a child alive in the 
place. They were accordingly all maflacred ; but fome of 
the leading men among the Bofporans having made their 
efcape, and taken refuge in the country of the Chazari, 
with the afTiftance of that neighbouring nation, defeated in 
ieveral encounters the emperor's forces ; and renouncins: 
Fktitppuiis their allegiance to him, proclaimed Philippicus, the fon of 
Kmurw* fi^'^anes, who had been baniflied by Tiberius to Cepha- 
lenia, but happened to be then at Chcrfona. 
. The troops that were fent againft them by Juftinian, 
finding they could not reduce the city of Cherfona, purfu- 
ant to his orders, and dreading the implacable difpofition of 
the tyrant, refolved to confult their own fafety^ by acknow- 
leging Philippicus ; which they did accordingly,, joining 
thofe againft whom they had been fent. Philippicus, thus 
proclaimed and fupported by two powerful armies, marched 
to Conftantinople, which he entered without oppofition, 
the emperor being then at Sinope in Paphlagonia, with a 
body of Thracians, againft whom Philippicus difpatched 
Elias, prince of the Bofporans; who having gained over 
^^!r'^" the Thracians, took the emperor prifoner, and cutting ofF 
Yr' of Fl ^^^ head, fent it to Philippicus, by whofe order it was con- 
3059. * veyed to Rome. Tiberius, the emperor*s fon by Theodora, 
A. D. 711, took fanftuary in a church ; but was dragged from the 
U C.1459. altar, which he grafped, and flain by Maurus a patrician, 
' in the prefence of Anaftafia his grandmother". Such was 

the end of Juftinian II. in the eighth year after his reftora- 
tion, and 7 [ i of the Chriftian sera. 
Philippt' Philippicus had no fooner taken pofleflion of the throne, 

55ii Buha^ *^^^ ^^^ Bulgarians, breaking unexpe£lcdly into Thrace, 
rians bnak advanced to the gates of Conftantinople. Having laid wafte 
into the country, and put to the fword an incredible multitude 

^Thrace* of people, they returned, without the leaft oppofition, 
loaded with booty. At the fame time the Saracens, invad- 
ing the Roman territories, committed dreadful ravagesj^ 

n Theoph. ad Ann, Juft. S. Ntccph. cap. %. 

took 



The CdnfiantinopoUtad Hi/lory. j j 

todk tfae city of Medsai and feveral other places* and re- 
turned likewifc anmolefted, carrying with them great nunr- 
bers of captives. Thefe calamities rendering rbilippicus PbtUppicut 
odious to the people^ one Rufus, at the inftigation of two ^^pa/td, 
patricians^ Theodorus» and Georgius commander of the 
troops in Thrace, entering the palace with a company 
of Thracians, while the emperor was repofing after din« 
ner, pat out his eyes, and withdrew undifcovered «^. The 
next day, being Whitfanday, the people aflembling in the 
great church, proclaimed Artemius, chief fecretary to Phi- Anafafiui 
uppicus, who was accordingly crowned by the patriarch *. futcads^, 
Artemius, or^ as he was afterwards called, Ananafius, was 
a man of great learning, and had been from his youth em* 
ployed with uncommon fuccefs in the management of pub« 
lie a&irs. As he was a zealous Catholic, he made it his 
chief ftudy to heal the divifions of the church, without ne- 
glefting the affairs of the ftate \ for, in the very beginning 
of his reign, he appointed Leo, an Ifaurian, a perfon of 
gr^at experience in war, commander in chief of all his- 
forces, and fent him with a powerful army to the frontiers 
of Syria, to prote£l Ada Minor againft the inroads of the 
Saracens. Being informed that the Saracens defigned to 
lay {iege to Conftantinople, he caufed a great number of 
light ihips to be built, the walls to be repaired, and having 
filled the public granaries, ordered fuch of the citizens as 
had not laid up provifions for three years, to depart the 
city. News being brought, in the mean time, that the ene- 
m]r^s fleet had^ailed tp Phoenicia, he ordered his to affemble 
from the different ports of the empire at Rhodes, appoint- • 

ing John, deacon of the great church, his admiral. The 
fleet met accordingly \ but the admiral punifliiiig, with 
more feverity than prudence, fome refractory feamen, the nefeaimn 
reft mutinied, and killed him: being well apprifed they kill their 
could by no other means avoid the puniftiment due to their admiral, 
crime, but by openly revoltine, they declared AnaftaGus 1".^^^^"** 
unworthy of the empire, and obliged TheodoGus, a perfon ^^J^^^ 
of a mean extraftion, and then receiver of the revenue at ^^ 
Adramyttium, to accept of the purple. 

Anaftafius, upon the firft notice of the revolt^ fled to 
Nice in Bithynia, leaving a ftrong garrifon in Conftanti^ 
nople ; which city Theodofius immediately befieged by fea ' 

and land, and reduced, after having continued fix months 
before it. He had no fooner entered tne city than be di(« 
patched the magiftrates and the patriarch to acquaint AnsH 
ftafitts with what had happened^ wbo^ upon promifis of }iif 

w Theoph. ad Ajm. Phil, *, * Nk<pl). cap. f. 



3^ The ConftoHtlnopoUtan H^^rf^ 

Itfe, renounced all claim ta the empire^ and taking ilie: 
habit of a monki delivered himfelf up to the new prince^ 
by whom he was baniibed to The&lonica^ after he had 
l/# r#.. enjoyed the title of Emperor about two years ^. hto^ whom 
^toiis* AnaftaCus had appointed. commander in chief of all hia 
forcesi refufing to acknpwlege Theodofiusy drew together 
all the troops m- the Eafl:^ with a defign, as. he gave out^ 
to reftore the depofed emperor; but being. peffuaded by 
Mafalnias, prince of the Saracens, to aflfume the purpfe^ 
and powerfttlly affifted by Art^vafdes an Armenian, a man 
of great intereft in that country, he marched^ at the )iead of 
a c6nfiderable army, to Nicomedia, where he met, defeated^ 
and took prifoner the fon of Theodofios, who had been 
fent againft him. From Nicomedia be purfiied his march 
to Conftantinople, being acktiowleged emperof in all the 
places through which he paied. Theodofius^ finding it 
was in vain to contend with fo powerful a rival, difpatched 
to him German us the patriarch, and fome of the chief m^n 
zn the fenate, oflering to refign thepurplc) on condition his 
life ihould be fpared. To this propofal Leo readily agreed ; 
Theodtfius and Tbeodofius, divefting bimfelf of the purple, entered^, 
abdicates, with his fon, into orders, after having reigned one year. . 
Yr. of Fl. Leo was received with loud acclamations at Conftanti- 
3064.. nople, and' crowned on the twenty-fifth of March of the 
A. D. 716. prefent year 716, by the patriarch Germanus, after he had 
U.C 1464. engaged by a folemn oath to prcferye, and, to the utmofl: 
7 ^ of his power, defend the orthodox faith. He was a native 
edemptror. of Ifauria, of mean extraction, and had ferved fome time 
• in the ftation of a common foldier, from which he was 

raifed by Juftinian 11. and admitted, on account of his fta^ 
ture, and comelinefs of his perfon, amongft the fpatarii, 
»^ that is, the emperor's guards. Anaftafius appointed him. 

commander in chief of all his forces, which poft he held 
when ht aflumed the purple. He is diftinguiflied from the 
other eniperors bearing the name of Leo by the furname of 
Iconomaehus, which was given him on account of his com- 
bating the worfliip of images. 

In the firft year of his reign, Mafalnias, prince of the 

Sdracehs, at whofe inftigation he had affumed the purple^ 

Pergamus ttjok by furp^flze the city of Pergamus. In the courfe dF 

taktft by the Aext year, Solyman, one of the generals of the Sara^^^ 

the Sara' cens, brolce into Thrace ; but he dying, Haumar was apw 

^'*' » pointed fo cbmmand in his-rtx>m) who k)ft moft' of his men, 

by the feverity of the wiiitcr- Howevisr, in the foRowing 

i]^ng he approached Conibittinoplei and invefted it bf 

7 •«- rCedreA.adAntt«Anaft.a. 

,» ' ^ *-^ land^ 



tsad, while Zuphi^im and l2Cth> arriving with two power* Yr. of FL 
fal fleets, the one from Egypt and the other from Africa, 3067. 
blocked it up by fea j but moft of their (hips being deftroy* ^-P- 719- 
ed, either by the artificial fire, of which we have fpoken ^^^^' 

above, or by ftorms, they thought it advifeable to abandon ^^j^ ^^. 
the enterprize, and retire, after having Jain before the city /ege con- 
thirteen months. The calamities which the inhabitants fat* ftanumflt\ 
fered during the fiege, can hardly be eiprefied ; thirty J.*' ^^* 
thoufam) of them are faid to have perifhed with hunger, ^^l J^ 
and the like number to have been fwept ofi^ by the plagued ^^^^ tnur'- 
Haumar> prince of the Saracens, highly provoked at the pr'tM. 
mifcarriage of his armies and fleet before Condantinopley 
began to rage with great fury againft the Chriftians in his rhey ptr/e* 
dominions, forbidding them at firft the exercife of their cuutht 
religion, and foon after commanding them, on pain of C^f'ifii^ns* 
death, to renounce it, and embrace the faith of Moham- 
med. Many, to avoid death, made an outward profefBon 
of the religidn of their infulting mafters, while fome few 
maintained, with unihaken conftancy, the true religion, at 
the expence of their lives. Sergius, governor of Sicily, re« Sirgius 
volting, declared one Bafilius, the fon of Ohomagulus, re*uoits in . 
emperor, changing his name into that of Tiberius; but ^^f^tfi 
Paul, an officer of the houfhold, who was fent againft the *!S? " ^*^ 
ufurper, having got him into his power, and caufed his 
head to be ftruck ofi^, reftored the ifland to its former 
tranquility. Sergius, the chief author of the revolt, took 
refuge among the Lombards in Italy. At this period, the 
emprefs Maria was, to the unfpeakable joy of the emperor, 
and the inhabitants of Conftantinople, delivered of a fon, 
named Conftantine, and commonly nicknamed Coprony- Cwfatuiu 
mus, from his having defiled the facred font at his baptifm. CoprMy- 
Theophanes, the true author of the hiftory intitled Mif- ««w^«'"»v ^ 
cella, which is falfly afcribed to Paulus Diaconus, tells us, 
that Germanus the patriarch foretold from that accident, 
that the infant would one day prove a great plague to the 
church *. The joy for the birth of the young prince was 
fomewhat flayed by the approach of a numerous army of 
Bulgarians, headed by the late emperor Anaftafius, who, Anafiajiiu 
weary of a private life, had prevailed upon thofe Barba* attempts t§ 
rians to acknowlege him for emperor, and fupport his rifume thi 
claim to the crown. They laid fiege to Conftantinople, hop- '^M'* 
i>%« l>y means of the partifans of Anaftafius, among whom , 
were feveral perfons of great diftin£tion, to make them- 
fdives ibon mafters of the city ; but meeting with a vigor* 

> Cedren, Ann». Leon. s. Beda de Sex. ^tat« Paul Diacon» 
fib. vi. cap/ 47* * Hift* MilceJ. p. 74* 

D 3 ous 



38 



Conflantini 

croiuned ; 



Leo's idia 

images. 



A tumult at 

Conftantii' 

nopU, 



Vhe people 
rewoit in 
llulj. 



The Coff/iantinopolit^n Hiftoty. 

ous oppofition, they feized on the unfortcmate Anaftafius, 
and delivered bim up the emperor, who put him to death, 
with all his accomplices, among whom was the bifliop of 
Theflalonica **• Leo, having happily weathered this ftorm, 
caufed his fori Conftantine to be folemnly crowned empe- 
ror, in order to fecure the empire to his pofterity^. In 
the mean time the Saracens, under the condu£l of their 
new prince Ized, who had fucceeded Haumar, having 
equipped a numerous fleet, ravaged the cpafts of Italy ana 
Sicily; atid landing in Sardinia, raged with unfpeakable 
fury, deftroying all with fire and IVord ; but being foon 
after diverted from molefting the empire by inteftine divi* 
fions that arofe amongft them, another Ized, furnamed 
Muabbis, having raifed an infurre£tion in Perfia, the em-* 
peror was more at leifure to reform feveral abufes, which 
had crept into the court and ftate under the former em- 
perors. 

In the tenth year of his reign, and 726 of the Chriftian 
aera, be publiihed the famous edi£b, commanding all images 
to be removed from the churches, and forbidding any kind 
of worftiip to be paid to them. This edift was, with great 
vigour, oppofed in the Eaft by Germanus, patriarch of Con- 
ftantinople, and Johannes Damafcenus ; but Leo, having 
depofed Germanus, and raifed Anaftaiius to the fee of 
Conilantinople in his room, caufed his edi£b to be put in 
execution at Conilantinople, and the images to be dellroy- 
ed by his oflScers throughout the city. The people, ftruck 
with horror at feeing the images of our Saviour and his 
f;;iints thus infulted, and either torn in pieces, or burnt by 
the emperor's officers, afTembled in a tumultuous manner, 
and having: firft vented t^eir rage upon Leo's ftatues and 
images, flew to the palace : being repulfed and purfued with 
great flaughter by the emperor's guards, they were forced 
tp difperfe, and fufFer the ediA to take place. But in the 
Weft, efpecially in Italy, it was had in fuch abhorrence, 
that the people openly revolted ; a circumilance which gave 
Luitprand, king of the Lombards, an opportunity of feizing 
Ravenna, and feveral other cities of the exarchate. He was 
however foon after driven out by the Venetians, who, at 
that time, made a 6gure in Italy. 

Gregory II. then pope, or bifhop of Rome, jealous of the 
growing power of the Lombards, had, by a letter to Urfus 
duke of Venice, prevailed upon him to efpoufft the intereft 
of jhe emperor, and lead his forces againft Ravenna; which 
f:ity ht furprifed, before Luitprand, who was then at Favia^p 



l^^iceph. c^Pf iQ« xii 



f Theopd.Cedrcn. ad Ana. I^n* $* 



The Conflantinopolltan Htflofy. 39 

had the lead notice or fufpicion of his defign. Gregory Gregory //. 
had, from the very beginning, ^pofed with great warmth oppoj'es thi 
the emperor's edift forbidding the worihip of images; and '^P^^^^ * 
now, prefuming upon the eminent fervice he had rendered '** 
the empire, -he wrote a long letter to Leo, eameftly intreat- » 

ing him to revoke it. The eiliperor, ^ell apprifed, that 
Gregory had been prompted by his own intereft, and not 
by that of the empire, to prevent the Lombards from mak- 
ing new conquefts in Italy, was exafperated to fuch a de- 
gree againft him, for continuing (till to oppofe his edid, 
that he fent private orders to his officers in Italy, efpecially Leo au 
to Paul, exarch of Ravenna, and to Mauritius, governor, or ^*^^.^^P' , 
as he was then fty.led, duke of Rome, injoining them to "*. " '^^ 
get Gregory into their power, and fend him dead or alive 
to Conftantinople. The people of Rome, who had a great 
veneration for their bifliop, difcovering the defign, guarded 
. him fo carefully, that the emperor's omcers could never find 
an opportunity of putting their orders in execution. Three 
aflaffins undertook to murder him ; but two of them were 
apprehended, and put to death, a fate which^the third 
efcaped, by taking fan£tuary in a monaftery, and embracing 
a religious life. Gregory, finding himfelf thus fupported 
by the people of Rome, folemnly excommunicated the ex- Thaxareh 
arch, for publiihing, and attempting to put in execution, /^<"«««"»* 
the emperor's edid:, writing at the fame time letters to the ^^^^ 
Venetians, to king Luitprand, to the Lombard dukes, and 
to all the cities of the empire, exhorting them to continue 
ftedfaft in the catholic faith, and oppofe, with all their 
might, the execution of the impious and heretical edi£l. 

Thefe letters made fuch an impreifion upon the minds of 
the people, that the inhabitants of Italy, though of different Thepettpk 
intereils, and often at war with each other, entering into ^ ^^^ 
an alliance, refolved to aft in concert, and prevent the exe- ^^'^ ' 
cution of the imperial edidi. The people of Rome, and 
thofc of the Pentapolis, now Marca d' Ancona, pulling 
down the emperor's ftatues, openly revolted, and refufing to 
acknowlege an iconoclaft, that is, a breaker of images, for 
emperor, they chofe magiftrates of their own; they had 
even fome thoughts of elefting a new emperor, and con^ 
dufting him with a ftrong army to Conftantinople : but this 
fcheme was oppofed by the pope as impracticable. In Ra- 
venna the people rofe in defence of the images againft Paul 
the exarch ; and having killed him, and all the iconoclaft^ 
in the city, fubmitted to Luitprand king of the Lombards, a Ravennm 
politic prince, who took care to improve to his advantage fubmiu t§ 
the general diftontent that reigned among the fubjefts of ^^^^f^* 
the empire. In Naples the people tpok afms againft Exhi* ^ '* 

D4 laratvs 



4fi 



Tii inha' 
hi ia fits of 
Naples kill 
thiirgO' ~ 



muns rim 



married to 



/bip. 



fnd isjfiic 
teeded by 
Uf fott^ 



The Cot^MtinopQlitm Hiftwj. 

laratus their duke (for Naples W9S. t^en governed hy dukes 
fent from Conftantinople^, and murdered him« witbr his 
fon Adrian, and one of lift chief officers, for prefllng the m<- 
habitants to receive the edift, and conform to the religioxi 
of their prince. JHowever, a^ they hated the Lombards, 
with whom they had beei> almoft conftantly at war, tljey 
.continued firm and conftant in their obedience to Leo, and 
received Peter, who \j^a§ appointed dufee of Naples in the 
room of Exhilaratus. 

'f he people of Rome, finding the emperor inflexible in his 
defign againft the worfhip of images, and the life of the pope, 
^hom he looked upon as the chief author of ^U the difturb- 
ances, refolved to renounce their allegiance to I^eo, and tp 
continue united under the pope as their head, binding 
themfelves bv a folemn oath to diefend him ^gainft all the 
attempts both of the emperor and the Lonc^bards, whom 
jhey h^d tpo much r^afon to diftruft**, 

jleo was wholly talcen up, dpripg the remmning part qf ^ 
his long reign, in luppreffing the wonhip of images through- ^ 
out his dpnainiQnsj and raging with great cruelty again^ 
thpfc who refufed^ to comply with his edi£l^ while the 
oaracen^i breaking into the eaftern provinces, laid them 
"jyafte without controul. 

In tbp fevejitjeenth year of his reigp| and 733 of the 
Chfifti^in sera, he married his fon Coullantine to tHe d«^ugh-^ 
ter of the king of Ch^zari, after flie had been inftru^ted 
}n the principles of the Chriftian religion, and rege^ivcd ^t 
her baptifra the name pf Irene, a word fignifying in the 
Greelc toogue \feai:€. The fame ye^r t}ie emperor caufed a 
fleet to bp equipped, with a dengn to cbaftife and bring 
t;).ack tp t;heir duty the Romans, and other people of Italy, 
who had revolted on occafion of the edi£l againfl: images ; 
but the fleet being fliipwrecked in the Adriatic fea, Leo 
pould by no other means be revenged on the pope, who 
continued to oppofe the execution of his ediu, than by 
paufing the revenues of the Roman fee in Calabria and Sir 
cily to be confifcated ^ In the laft year of Leo's reign, a 
fjreadful earthquake happened at Conftantinople, which 
pveri^rned many churches, monaftcries, and private houfes, 
jurying great numbers of people uftder the ruii^s. 

fJ^ot long after this calamity Leo died, having reigned 
twepty-fiv§ years, two months^ and twenty days, ^d w^ 
fuccepded by his Ton Cpnftantine, who no fooner few hinft* 
felf fole jnaller pf the epipire than hp led an army again^ 

d Anaft. in Greg, II. Paul. Diac, lib. vL Sigoo. ad Ann. 7«e 
7*6. Epift, I k 2 Orpg: ad Leon.' c Thcpph. ad Ann. Leon. 17. » 

th 



The C^MtmpoUfm Hl/kfy. 

Ae SaracehSi who hid mads an irruption into Afia. In Vr. ^f pi 

bis abfeace Arta))a2du$, w1k> kacl married his 6^r, re- 3090. 
ported that he was deail ; and being thereupon acknowleged ,^' ^' H«« 
by the people, and proclaimed emperor, he caufed the fons ^•'^- '4s»* 
of Conftantine to be fecured *, but as he icnew that the re- ^^^^ ' 
port he had induftrioufly fprcad o£ Cofiftantinc's death diurrinhs. 
would be foon contradtded, he began to confult with the 
patriarch A^aftafius, by what other means he might keep 
the people fteady in their allegiance to him. AnaftaGus 
bad been a zealous iconoclaft in the late reign \ but to in- 
gratiate himfelf with Artabazdus, who had a great vene- 
ration for images, and to eftrange the minds of the people 
from Conftantine, he aflembled them in the great church ; 
and holding in his hand the wood of the holy crofs, he 
took the following oath : ** By him who died upon this 
^rood I fwear, that Conftantine one day addrefled me with 
tbefe words : I do not believe him to be the Son of God, 
who was born of Mary, and is called Chrift, but a mere 
maa ; for Mary was delivered of him after the fame man- 
lier as Mary my mother was delivered of me/' This de- 
poGtion of the pitriarch, whether true or falfe, made fuch 
an impreflion on the minds of the multitude> that they im- 
mediately depofed Conftantine with one confent, and with 
repeated acclamations faluted Artabazdus again emperor,- 
who took Nicephorus, his^ldeft fon, for his partner in the 
empire '. This tranfa£tion gave rife to a civil war, the 
greateft, fays Cedrenus, perhaps not without fome exag- 
geration* that had happened fince the beginning of the 
world. All we know of it is, that Artabazdus, and his 
fon Nicephorus, being defeated^ by Conftantine in fcvciral 
encounters, were befieged in Conftantinopie ; which city 
refifted, till the inhabitants were forced by famine to fub- 
mit. Artabazdus and his two fons were taken, and deli* 
vtred to the emperor, who caufed their eyes to be pulled 
out» gave the city to be plundered by his foldiers, and ei- 
ther l^niflied, maimed, or put to death ail thofe who had 
been concerned in the revolt. Anaftafius the patriarch was 
by the emperor's orders publicly fcourged, and then carried 
in an ignominious manner tlirough the moft frequente4 
flreets of the city on an afs, with his fiiqe to the tail. How«- 
ever, the time^ferving prelate was continued in his fee, 
JKcattfe die emperor could |iot find a worfe^ fays Tfaeo* 
phanes, to prefer to it in his room <• 

Cbttftaptine having thus fuppreiTed his enemies at home^ 
Ijdbhed to march once more againft tb^ Saracens^ who 



f f^copbi sd 4nA« Ceaft« t. 



% Ibid. 



were 



4* 

Con/lantiiu 

riC9Virs 

placisfirom 
the Sara" 
teas. 



Dreadful 

earth" 

fuakis. 



A ^violent 



9'be Confiantinopoliian HJicfy* 

were at war among themfelves. Accordingly, having raii^ 
ed a powerful army, he entered Syria ; and having over- 
thrown the enemy in feveral encounters* made himfelf 
mafter of Germanicia, andfome other fortrefles, which had 
been long in their hands* The Saracens, notwithftanding 
their domeftic quarrels, in order to divert the emperor from 
purfuing his conquefts in Syria, aflembled a numerous 
fleet, which fteered its courfe to the ifland of Cyprus, 
where it was to be joined by other fliips of war, and a great 
number of tranfports with land-forces on board. But the 
Roman fleet coming unexpe&ed]y upon them, while they 
were riding at anchor in one of the ports of that ifland, 
deftroyed the whole navy, except three fhips, which they 
fufiered to efcape with the news of fo great a calamity ^» 
However, the emperor was diverted. from purfuing the ad- 
vantages that might have thence accrued to the empire, by 
the frequent earthquakes that happened about this time, 
and were by far the moft deftruflive that had been known 
in any agi:. In Syria and Paleftine feveral cities were 
fwallowed up, others entirely ruined, and fome, if we may 
give credit to Nicephorus, removed, without any confider- 
able damage, fix miles and upwards from their former 
feats. At the fame time the heavens were overcaft with 
an extraordinary darknefs, which lafted from the fourth of 
Auguft to the firft of 0£tober,«there being little or no di£» 
tin<Sion, during that period, between day and night. This 
calamity was followed by another ftill more terrible, a 
plague, which breaking out in Calabria, foon fpread all 
over Sicily, Greece, the iflands in the ^gxan fea, and at 
length reached Conftanttnople, where it raged for three years 
with fuch fury, that the living were no more than fufficient 
to buiy the. dead. The piaguie no fooner ceafed than Con- 
ftantine, having caufed his fon Leo, then fcarce a year old, 
to be proclaimed emperor, marched, with what forces he 
could draw together, into Armenia ; and taking advantage 
of the divifions that flill reigned among the Saracens, made 
himfelf mafter of Miletene, Theodofiopolis, and feveral 
ether places. 

. He was diverted from purfuing his conqueflis in the Eaft, 
by a fudden irruption of the Bulgarians, who, provoked at 
the empei^or's caufing fome forts to be built on the fron- 
tiers of Thrace, broke into that province, and advancing 
as far as the long wall, laid wafte the whole country. Con* 
ftantine having recalled his forces from the Eaft, marched 
againft them in perfon ; but being furprifed by the enemy 



Niceplu in Conft, cap. ti* 



m 



The ConftantimpoUtan Hifiory. . 4} 

sn a narrow pafs, called Beragaba» his army was utterly de* Cenfianting 
featedy and he obliged to fave himfelf by flight to Conftan«> de/taudbf 
tinople *. Soon after his return to that metropolis, he re- ^^ Bulg^ 
newed the edift publiihed by his father againft images, ''***'• 
forbidding, at the fame time, any worQiip to be paid to 
the faints, or their relics, and commanding their images to 
be removed out of the churches, and publicly burnt. Such 
of the bifhops, as oppofed the execution of this tixGt were 
driven from their fees; and the monks, who preached againft 
it either fent into banifhment, or fentenced X6 death. At 
the fame tinje an edi£b was publiihed in Conftantinople, 
and in all the cities of the empire, forbidding, under the ' 
fevereft penalties, any one to embrace a monaftic life ; at 
Conftantinople moft of the religious houfes were ftipprefledt 
and the monks not only obliged to many, but to lead their 
brides publicly through the ftreets. Of this perfecution 
the reader will find a more particular and diftinf): account 
in the ecclefiaftic writers, than it may be prop&r for us to 
give in this place *^. The twenty-third year of Conftantine's 
reign is remarkable for an extraordinary froft, and feveral Afurprifm 
prodigies (C). Conftantine continued to perfecute, with ^^f^^* 
great feverity, thofe who appeared moft zealous and for- 
ward in the worfhip of images, till he was diverted by a 
new irruption of the Bulgarians ; who breaking into the 
territories of the empire, committed every where great 
cruelties : but ConftantiQc marching in perfon againft them, r a ** 
cut them off, and then returned in triumph to Conftantino- ^fffati thg 
pie. This the emperor ftyled his noble war, becaufe not Bulga- 
one Chriftian periflied in it. riaus* 

However, he owed the vi£l:ory, it feems, to the treachery 
of fome Bulgarians, whom Elerich their king difcovered 
by the following device : he wrote to Conftantinople, pre- 
tending a defire to refign the crown, and lead a private life 
at Conftantinople ; for which purpofe, he begged the em- 
peror to fend him a fafe-condu£):, and at the fame time to 
acquaint him what friends he had amongft the Bulgarians, 
that he might repair with them to Conftantinople, being 
unwilling to truft his perfon or defign to others. In con- 
fequence of this addrefs, Conftantine, not fufpe£ling any 

i Theopb. ad Ann. Conft. 19. k Vide Theopfa. Cedren. 

jbc. ad Ann. Conft, 19, 23. 

. (C) It began on the firft of from the (hore, the ice being 
O^ober, and laded till near the fo thick as to bear the heaviel): 
end of February. At Con- carnages, and covered with 
ftantinople, both feas were fnow twenty cubits deep, 
frozen for % hundred miles 

deceit^ 



decekp Ant him a lift of the namei of th^fe who h^ iiif 

telligence ivith him ; which the crafty prince no (odner 

receiTed *thati he caufed them all to he put to death. The 

Yr. «f Ft. emperor, finding himfelf tha$ delnded, refoWed, at 9U 

A '^*^i« events, to be revenged on the treacherous prince } and ac* 

vc\^tt ^^'■^^g^y having employed the winter in warlike prepara^ 

' *'^ tions, he marched early m the fpring againft Elerich } but 

3/larchis hcing fcized on his march with a violent fever, he retiH^ed 

mgainft U> Achadiopolifi, whence be was conveyed to Selymbria^ 

tfJim i but jnd from tfaent;e by fea to Strongylom» where he died on 

^'"* the fourteenth of September, after he bad reigned twenty* 

four years, two months^ and twenty-6x days '. As Con- 

^^^* ftantine was a moil zealous iconoclaft, and did all that lay 

ra&tr* jit his power %o fupprefs the worftiip of the faints, their 

images and relics, Tbeophanes, Cedrenua, and the other 

writers of thofe* times« reprefent him in the blackeft co* 

lours, biafed in fome meafurci vi^e may reafonably fuppofe» 

by paffion, intereft, and prejudice* However, we muft 

i^\ow him to have been a prince of great temperance and 

inoderatioq, well fkiUed in war, and in every refped equal 

tpnhe high (lation to which he was raifed. As for the 

great feverity which he exerted againft fuch s^s continued^ 

in defiance of his decree, to worfhip images, it was, no 

doubt, owing to his sseal for the purity of the Chriftian re-i 

Ugion. He defended the empire, with equal bravery and 

fuccefs, againft the Saracens and Bulgarians ; but was not 

in a condition to prevent the lofs of the greater part of his 

dominions in Italy* 

Ln IIL Conftantine was fucceeded in the empire by his fon Leo^ 

who, foon after his acciefiion, took his fon Conftantine, 

whom he had by IrenCf for his partner in the empiret cauf«* 

ing hi^i to be folemnly crowned by the patriarch in the 

hij^odromep and beftowing at the fame time the title of 

* nobiliffimi) on his two brothers Antbemius and £udoxius» 

Nicephorus, bia fecond brother, having received that ho«« 

Elirhh nour in his father's life-time "*. Elerich, king of the Bul- 

Itmg pftki garians, who had done great mifchief to the empire in the 

Bulgarians preceding reign, movpA with an earneft defire of embrac- 

X CVin/- **^* ^^® Chriftian rellgioB, refigned his crown, and repaired' 

lion reh* ^^ Conftantinople, where he was received by Leo with ex- 

gm._ traordlnary . deraonftrafions of kindneft and efteem, and, 

after he had received the facrament of baptifm, created z 

fiatrician, and married to a relation of the emprefs Irene "• 
n the third year of Leo's reign, fome advantages were 

1 Theoplu Cedren. ad Ann. Coq|1« 25. » Tbeoph. ad Ann* 

J^eon. I. - ° Idem, ad Ann. a, 

gained 



^dn<d by the emfttot*s forces over the Saficeiii, who, by 
wayof revenge, began to peifecote the Chriftians, cattfing 
all their churches in Syria to be pulled down, and levelled 
with the grouhd'. Lei), who had hitherto diflcmbled his 
real fentiments concerning the worQiip of images, openly 
declared againft that fuperflitious and idolatrous praAice, 
reviving the ediSs of his father and grandfather, and pu- 
ntflitng, wkh the utmoft feterity, fuch as prefumed to pay 
any kind of worihip to the faints, the Virgin ,Maryj or 
their images. Having found two images in the clofet of 
the ctnprcfs Irene, he never after admitted her to his bed, 
and caufed thofe who had con^yed tbem to her to be rack-* 
cd to death ®, He did not long outlive them, being fi>on 
after 4eized with a violent fever, of which he died on the 
fixteeath of September 771, after having reigned five jtzrs hU death. 
and ten days. 

Leo was fucceeded by his fon Conftantine, furnamed ConJIantw* 
Porphyrogenitus, becaufe he was borA while bis father Porphy* 
was emperor ; but as he ^as then only ten years old, his V^^^^* 
mother Irene took upon her the adminift ration. The Voung ^'^ *'''*'• 
prince had fcarce reigned forty days, when fome of the fe- 
nators and great officers confpired againft him, with a de- 
fign to prefer his uncle Nicephorus to the imperial dignity ; 
Imt Irene, having feafonably difcovfercd the plot, caufed AtffiJpU 
the chief authors^of it to be feized, and cohfined to different ^"^^ difis* 
iiianda, after they had been publicly beaten with rods. Tf^^^^lJ^^ 
Awaked by this danger fhe obliged all the late emperor's ratonpm^ 
brothers to take holy orders, and admihifter the facratncnt to nijbgd* 
the people on Chriftmas-day, when flie and her fon teftoTed 
to the church the crown of HeracHus, which Leo had fei^- 
ed. The Saracens, upoa the news of Leo's death, broke 
into the eaftejn provinces ; but were driven back with great 
lofs by the troops which Irene had, upon the firft notice of 
their motions, dif patched againft them p. The emprefs, 
in order to procure a ftrong alliance by the marriage of her 
fon, feftt ambaffadors into Franc-e, to propofe a match be- 
tween him and the daughter of Charles king of that coun- 
try, who was afterwards furnamed the Great, and crown- 
ed emperor of the Weft. The prdpofal being well received 
by Charles, an eunuch, named Elifeus, was left at his 
court to teach his daughter, named Rotdrudrid, the Greek 
tdngue, and inftrudl her in the manners and cuftoms of the ' 

Greeks '. About this time Helpidius, governor of Sicily, HilptMu$ 
revolted % but was driven out of the ifland by Theodorus, a revulu. 

** Theopli. ad Ann. 5. Cedrcti. in Cdrop/ Annal. F Tlteoph. 

a4 Aaa« Coaft. i» 9 Idem ad Aqq. a» 

patrician^ 



4« 



Jt penjidn 
faid to tht 
Saracem, 



Mifundtr* 

fiandmg 

httwetu 

Conftari' 

tine and 

h4ne. 



Irene 
obliges the 
fenate and 
foldiery to 
take an 
path of al' 
Ufiiamce to 



The ConftantkopoUtaH Hifioty^ 

patrician, whom Irene had fent with a powerful flefct 
agatnd him» and obliged to take refuge among the Saracens 
in Africa, whp acknowleging him for emperor in oppofition 
tp ConftantinCy fell with fuch fury upon the eaftern pro- 
vinces, that Irene was glad to avert the danger that threat- 
ened the empire, by obliging herfelf to pay them an annual 
penfion. 

The peace with the Saracens was fcarce concluded, when 
the Sclavi or Sclavini, breaking into Greece and Pelopon* 
nefus, feized on thofe countries. Againft. them the em- 
prefs difpatched Saturacias, a patrician, who overcame 
t{iem in feveral battles ; but fuffered them to remain in the 
countries they had feized, upon their promiCing to acknow- 
leg^ the authority of the empire, by the payment of an an- 
nual tribute. In 779 the match between Conftantine and 
Rotdrudris, which had been approved of by both parties^ 
was broken off by Irene, who obliged her fon, much againft 
his inclination, to marry a woman of mean defcent, named 
Mary, by birth an Armenian or Papblagonian, and the 
niece or daughter of one Philaretus, remarkable for his 
good-nature and charitable difpofition. Some afcribe the 
diifoLution of the match with Rotdrudris, to the ambition of 
Irene, apprehending that Conftantine woul'd no longer be 
governed by her, but by his father-in-law. , Others tell u&, 
that the emprefs was provoked againft Charle$ on account 
of his invading the dukedom of Benevento in Italy, which 
.(he had taken under her proteflion. However, the con- 
duit of the emprefs, on that occaGon, difobliged her fon 
to fuch a degree, that he was never after truly reconciled 
to her. The young prince's courtiers, apprifed of the mif-* 
underftanding between him and his mother, and defirous 
of getting the power into their own hands, took care to re- 
mind him, that he was no longer a minor, but of an age to 
govern without the diredlions or counfels of a woman. 

Conftantine hearkening to their infinuations, they re- 
folved to feize on Saturacius, who governed with an abfo- 
lute fway, as Irene's firft minifter, and after having baniihed 
him, to oblige the emprefs to redgn the ad mi nift ration. 
Saturacius having notice of the deHgn as foon as it was 
concerted, immediately imparted it to Irene, who caufed 
all thofe who had been privy to it to be beaten with rods 
and fent into banifliment. As for her fon, (he chaftifed 
him with her own hands, and having confined him to his 
apartment, obliged the fenate and foldiery to bind them- 
felves by a folemn oath not to acknowlege Conftantine, but 
her alonei for their fovereign, fo long as (he lived. This 
oath was taken by all the forces quartered in the different 

provinces. 



The ConfiantinopoUtan Hlfiory, . ^y 

provinces, except fome legions in Armeni^^ who refolutely 
declared they would adhere to Conilantine, purfuant to the 
oath which they had already taken. The refolution of the • 
Armenian legions encouraged the reft, notwithftanding- 
their late oath, to proclaim Conft^ntine again, and demand 
with unanimous confent, that he might be forthwith veiled 
with the whole power and authority, . Irene, dreading the 
fury of the incenfed multitudet immediately releafed her ' 
foQ from his confinement^ who being received with the re- 
peated acclamations of the citizens and (oldtery, took the 
reins of the empire into bis own hands* Conftantine, now • 
at liberty to z6t without contfoul, recalled, and advanced 
to the firfl: employments, fuch as had been banifhed on his 
account, fending into exile Saturaciua, and his mother's 
other favourites, after they had been publicly fcourged. CoHfiamtiw 
As for Irene, he led her, with great refpedi, out of the par dtpriws 
lace, and attended her in perfon to a houfe built by herfelf, ^*^^f\^ 
in which (he had laid up an immenfe treafure '. t^n 

Next year the emperor marched, at the head of a confi- 
derable army, againft the Bulgarians, who had invaded 
the empire, and engaged them in Thrace ; but with what 
fuccefs is uncertain : for Cedrenus writes, that he gained 21 
great yi£iory ; but Zonaras affirms, that the two armies 
parted upon equal terms. Upon his return to Conftanti* 
nople, the friends of Irene, partly by extolling her wif- 
dom, prudence, and experience in public affairs, partly by 
intreaties and arguments, drawn from filial duty, prevailed, 
upon him to recall his mother to court, and reftore her to 
her former authority; which, however, the Armenian Je- trtmrtn .. 
gions could never be induced to acknowlege *. Being thus ^^^^^' 
reconciled to his mother, he marched anew againft the 
Bulgarians, encouraged by fome aftrologers, who promif- 
ed him certain viftory ; but while, dependii^ upon their 7*^^ ^^a^. 
vain predidions, he negle£ted the proper means to kA^^ rordefeai* 
tain it, the Bulgariansi taking advantage of his ill-grounded '.tdbythe 
fecurity, gave him a dreadful overthrow. Befides a great ^^fs^*" 
number of common foldiers, the beft oflicers of the army, ^'"* 
and the moft confiderable men in the empire^ loft their 
lives in the battle together with Pancfatius, who, by his: 
abfurd calculations, had contributed to the defeat. The 
eiuperor growing jealous and diftruftful upon this dif* 
ailer, fome malicious and defigning courtiers took care to 
improve that difpofition, by infinuating, that the foldiers 
quartered in Cbnftantlnople had formed a defign of prefer- 
ring Nicephorus to the' empire i an informatipa which 

' Ccdren. ad Ann. Confl. 10. "^ • Theopb. ad Ann. Conft. fol. 21 

heightened 



ITki Armt* 
mian U" 



^f ^ n^ C(^Mtin&poUiaH Hifiory. 

BbcTMifyg hflgliteiled bJs joAloufy to fueh a Atgret^ tliat lie not Mty' 
cailii3d bis eye^ (20 be put out, bat thdfe likewife of bid ' 
other uncles, l^ieetas^ AMhimusi and Eudocirhos, tbough 
nothii^ bad been all#ged dgainft tbem. Alexius Mofoiess 
tf^faom tbe Armenian legions bad demanded for their leader, 
vtbiti they refufed to confent to the reftor^tion of Irene, 
was. at her inftigation treated with the Tike feterity ; which 
fo provoked thcfe legions, that they refofed to obey Ckmi- 
Iktnus, appointed by the emperor to conimand them. Con* 
ftantianus, Artafefas, and Chryfochires, were fent againft 
farm at the bead of a ftrong party ; butthe mutinous legton^ 
having defeated and taken them ptKotict^y ordered, byway 
of reoaiiaiion, their eyes to be pulled out ; an outrage which 
fo povoked Conftantine, that he marthed againft them in 
p^rfon, alid having defeated them in a pitched battle, ptit 
all their officers to death, caufing the common foldiers to 
be led in chuns to Conftantinople, and conveyed from 
thence into different iflands ". 

The Armeniam legions^ who had always fofpefted, and 
beoli ready to oppofe the ambiljous defigns of Irene, being 
^rokm and ****** broken and difperfed, (he began to put the emperor, 
^jpirfed^ no^ deftitttte of that fuppor t, upon fuch meafnres as ihe 
thought i^ottld render him odious to the people. As he 
had no great sifFe^ion for the emprefs Mary, whom fiie bad 
forced him to marry, contrary to his inclination, ihe ad- 
Confianiiui yifo^j him to divorce her, and marry Theodota at Thed- 
^y^^'^ , dk£ta« one of the maids of her chaifioer ; who was accord-' 
fex i?gly crowned emprefs at Conftantinople, where the Arx^ 
^ki^m* tiais was folemnizred with extraordinary pomp and magni- 
ficence. ' This marriage occafioned contefts among the 
clergy, concerning the lawfulnefs of it, in wbich Irene 
artfully fidcd with thofe who oppofed her fon, encottragihg 
them fecrttiy toeftrange the minds of the people from him, 
Ho^ei^r, the fuc^efs which attended his arms againft the 
Sariicens and Bulgarians prevented the people from jcvdlt- 
iflg, though privately inftigated by Irene and her emifiafrits. 
The Saracens bad broken into Cilicia, but were driveii 
bock with great lofe by the troops which Cofiftantine fea- 
fmably diQyattthed againft them. As for the Bulgarians, 
Cardames tfaeif king having fern amb^ffadofs to demand a 
tribmte, thi^atenirrg to come as far as the golden gate of 
Conftantinople, and tike it by force, if it was refused ; 
C«ytfftantine repMed, that fince he was advanced in years, 
he wo>ald fave nim the trouble of fo long a jodrtit^, by 
cttmfing k> perlbn tx> Wait upon him. Accordingly, he 



■ Tbeoph.ad Aniii 3. 



marched 



The ConfliinttnopolitM Htfiory* 49 

marclied againft him, at the head of a confiderable ariAy; fit puts tki 

upon the fight of which the Barbarians, ftruck with a panic, BulgatioMt 

fled in the utmoft confternation. Upon his return to Con- ^^fisf^^ 

ftantinople, he attended his mother from thence to the 

baths of Prufa, in Bithjrnia, where he had not been long, 

when hews were brought him that the emprefs Theodota 

was delivered of a fon ; at which he was fo overjoyed^ that 

he returned in great hade to Conftantinople. Irene, tak** 

ing advantage of his abfence, gained the chief officers of 

the army, who promifed to depofe Conftantine, and com^ 

nit the government to her alone. Purfuant to this pro« 

mife, fome of them returning to Conftantinople, feized on 

the unhappy prince, and carrying him to the palace of Por* 

phjrra^ where he wasborn> pulled out his eyes in fuch a Hiismur^ 

cruel and barbarous manner, that he died a few days after, ^i^ 

in the utmoft agony, having reigned feven years alone and 

ten with his mother ^. 

Nicephorus and Chriftopher, her hufband's brothers, Yr. of Fl. 
hearing of the death of Conftantine, took fan£luary in the . 3 » ««• 
great chur<ch ; but were dragged from thence and baniflied ft C ^^^ 
to Athens, where they arc faid to have been killed by the ] 

inhabitants, upon their attempting' to raife difturbances Irmepro^ 
in the empire. In them ended the family of Leo Ifau- cUtimid 
ricus ; fo that no one was now left to difpute with Irene ^^P^'fi* 
her title to the empire. She no fooner received intelli- 
gence of the death of her fon, than leaving Prufa, (he re- 
paired to Conftantinople ; which (he entered in a gilded 
chariot drawn by four horfes, attended by feveral patri* 
cians, who waited as her (laves on either fide, while. fhe 
threw money among the people, as was ufual at the fo* 
lemnity of a coronation '. In the mean time the Saracens, 
hearing the empire was governed by a woman, broke into 
the eaftern provinces ; and having defeated the forces Irene 
fent again ft them, entered Thrace, made their excurfions 
to the gates of Conftantinople, and returned home unmo« 
lefted, carrying with them an immenfe booty> and an in- 
credible number of captives. In 789, the fecond of Irene's Saturacias 
reign, her great favourite Saturacius, prompted by his ^^»^'w 
boundlefs ambition, confpired againft her, with a defign ^f^'^ 
to deprive her of the crown, and to place it upon his own 
head; but his defign being difcovered before it was ripe 
for execution, Irene, after upbraiding him with treachery 
and ingratitude, contented herfelf, in confideration of his 
former fervices, with forbidding any one to keep him com- 
pany. The partiality which the emprefs ftiewed him^ joined 

^ Tjbeopb. ad Ann. 7. Conft< foi. ^ Ibid* ad AaQ. Iren. t. 

Vol* XV. E 19 



50 The Confianttnopolitan Hijlory. 

Co, a liTcly fenfeof his ingratitude to her, made fuch a deep 
impreffion upon bis mind> that he died of grief foon after. 
ShtJIudies Irene, finding (he could not depend even upon thofe 
u gain the Mfhom (he thought (he had moft reafon to confide in, made 
^f^f'^'" it her chief ftudy to gain the hearts of her people- With 
ttf. ' ^^*^ view, (he remitted an annual tribute, which had been 

long paid by the citizens of Conftantinople, encouraged 
commerce, and, what moft of all obliged the people, pro- 
moted, to the utmoft of her power, the wor(hip of images^ 
caufing them to be fet up anew in the churches, and annul- 
ling the edi£):s enaded againft them by former emperors. 
In 7{^3, Charles, furnamedthe Great, fent a folemn embafly 
to Conftantinople, with propofals of a fiim and lafting peace 
between him and Irene. To thefe amba(radors were joined 
legates from the pope, who were received with extraordi- 
J match nary pomp at Conftantinople. The ambafladors of Charles, 
propofiJ among their other inflruflions, were ordered to propofe a 
hH'wten match between him and Irene, that the two empires, might 

Irene and • im'^j'i* r-x 

Charles the ^ ®"^^ more happily united in their perions. Irene rea- 
Great, dily entered into the negotiation ; but Aetius, a eunuch, 
who bore the chief fway at court, by daily ft^rting new dif- 
ficulties, deferred, from time to time, the conclufion of the 
treaty. As he was excluded from the empire himfelf, on 
account of his defe£l, he had been long labouring fe- 
cretly to procure it for his brother Leo, at that time go- 
vernor of Thrace and Macedon ; but being convinced that 
his defign would be unavoidably defeated, (hould the treaty 
njifhUk Is between Irene and fo powerful and warlike a prince take 
•ppofed bj place, he endeavoured to divert the emprefs from it, at 16aft 
4ittus* ^^ protraft the negotiation, till a favourable opportunity of- 
fered of putting in execution bis private defign. 
7hi mhi- In the mean time the nobility, who hated Aetius, on ac-* 
^^^^IT^ h ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ haughty and imperious condu£^, fufpedling his 
Vicepho- defign, and apprehending the emprefs, over whom he had 
rnj. gained a great afcendant, might, in the fequel, be prevailed 

upon to take Leo for her partner in the empire, refolved to 
promote Nicephorus, a patrician of great wealth and intereft 
among the people. Accordingly, having firft difpofed the 
minds of the citizens to a revolt, by infinuating, that Irene 
joot only defigned to marry Charles, but to transfer the feat 
o( the empire to the Weft, by which means the Eaftern 
ompire would ibon become a province to the new empire 
of the Weft, they aiTembled at night, and went in a large 
Yr. of Fl. body to the palace. There they feized Irene without oppo- 
3>»5* fition^ and confining her under a ftrong guard to her 
Uc'mio c'^^"^^^^* condufted Nicephorus, their new emperor, with 
' * the ufual folemnityi to the great chuxchj where he was 

« crowned 



Tie CmftantimpolitaH H^iorf* 51 

erovncd ma tomttltuous manner, the populaccj whom jremdi^ 

Irene had obliged by feveral a£l8 of generotityy uttering re« pofed^ and 

proacbes and curfes againft him. Nicephorus treated Irene - Nicepho- 

with great civility and refpeS, till he had, by his obliging ''«' ereattd 

behaviour, prevailed upon her to difcovcr the place where ^^P^^^* 

her treafures Jay concealed ; then, contrary to his folemn 

promife, he confined her to a monaftery, which (he had 

buiit in an ifland \ but foon after removed her from thence 

to the ifland of Lefbos, where (he died of grief ^ She is 

greatly extolled, notwithftanding her unnatural condud: 

towards her fon, by all the writers of thofe times, no doubt 

on account of her zeal for the worfhip of images, and the 

great pains (he took to fupprefs the herefy, as it was then 

called, of the iconoclafts. She built a great many monafte-« 

ries and hofpitals for the 'relief ef the poor and aged ; and, 

by many other afts of piety, gained, if the writers of thofe 

times are to be credited, both the eftee'm and afTeflion of 

her fubjedis. Her great attachment to the fee of Rome, 

and the indefatigable pains (he took to get the dodrine of 

the inconoclails Condemned in the fecond council of Nice, 

by h&r afiembled for that purpofe, have fo far biafed fome 

writers, that they have not been afhamedto vindicate, even 

by texts of Scripture, her unnatural and barbarous conduft 

towards^ her fon, who perhaps deferved fuch treatment^ 

but not at the hands of his mother. Irene was thus de<« 

pofed ici 793, after having reigned ten years with her fon 

and five aJone. 



^mmO^OQoQooeeQmam O«aoeOoM»O»«MO«MoO«0MO««o*Q«M»O«M"p«"«QMM.O>ffMQ WD99«P»P 



CHAP. LXIX. 

T^he Conjlantinopolitan Hiftory^ from the PrO'- 
motion of Nicephorus to the I^eath of Ba* 
Jilius IL 

THE ambaffadors who had been fent by darles the Niaph^ 
Great, to propofe a marriage between him and the ruu 
cmprefs Irene, ia order to unite once more the tviro em- 
pires, were, no doubt, greatly concerned at the unexpcfted 
fcvolution which happened during their flay in Conftanti- 
nople, and utterly difcoocerted the ambitious views of their 
ttafter. However, as they were enjoined to conclude a 

r Tteopb. ftd Ann. Nicepbrt,, 

£ 2 firm 



/ 



$z TheConftantinopolitan Hiftofy. 

firm and lading peace with the Eaftern empire, they readily 
made their court to the new prince, who being apprifed oS 
the advantages that might accrue to him from the friendfiiip 
of Charles, received his ambafladors in a very obliging man- 
ner, and the year following concluded a treaty with him, in 
Concludes y'lxxyx^ of which Charles was acknowleged emperor of the 
tvitT^'^ Weft ; and all Italy, to the rivers Vultornus and Aufidus* 
Charles the yielded to him. Nicephorus, in the third year of his reign. 
Great* caufed Nicetas Triphyllius, to whom he was chiefly in- 
debted for his promotion, to betaken oflfwith poifon, be- 
caufe he was beloved by the army. He ^ave feveral other 
inftances of a moft cruel, fufpicious, and covetous temper, 
which, as they, rendered him odious to the people, encou- 
Bardanes j-^ged Bardanes, governor of one of the eaftern provinces, 
revolts J ^^ revolt, and affume the title of emperor. Michael and 
Leo, two oflBrcers of great reputation in the army, joine'd 
him at fir ft ; but foon after finding him unequal to fo great 
a charge, they went over to Nicephorus, who raifed them 
hutfuh* to the firft pofts in the army. Bardanes, thus forfaken by 
•"''^" his friends, fent a fubmiffive meifage to Nicephorus ; and, 

upon his promifing to pardon him, retired to a monaftery* 
The emperor, pretending to be entirely reconciled^ invited 
him in a friendly manner to Conftantinople ; but, on his 
way to that city, his eyes were plucked out by perfons em- 
ployed for that purpofe. The emperor, to prevent any fu- 
ture attempt of the like nature, and fecure the crown to 
his family, took his fon Saturacius for his partner in the 
empire, and caufed him to be crowned with the ufual fo- 
lemnity. 
Kicepho' Having thus fettled his affairs at home, he marched a- 

rus defeat' gainft the Saracens, who had broken into the eaftern pro- 
'^ vinces ; but his army was utterly defeated, and himfelf nar- 

rowly efcaped falling into the enemy's hands. Next year 
_ the Saracens, to the number of three hundred thoufand men, 

invaded the empire again ; and advancing, without oppo- 
fition, as far as Tyana, the metropolis of Cappadocia Mi- 
nor, made themfelves mafters of that city, and feveral other 
fortified places, extending their ravages to the gates of An- 
cyra in Galatia. Nicephorus marched againft them with 
what forces he could laife; but not daring to venture an 
engagement, he difpatched ambaffadors with rich prefents 
to Aaron their kalif, who, with difficulty, was prevailed 
Concludes a upon to grant a peace upon the following terms : that the 
difbonour- emperor (hould pay to the Saracens a yearly tribute of thirty 
w^///ir thoufand pieces pf gold, befides thiee'thpufand for his own 
Saracens, head, and as many for that of his fon ; and that he (hould 
not prefume to repair fuch forts as had been difmantled. 

Nicephorus 



«• 



^e ConJlanttnopoUtan Htftory. ^9 

Niccphorus agreed to thefe terms \ but the enemy was no 
fooner retired than, in violation of the treaty, he rebuilt 
the forts that had been demoliihed ; a circumftance whicli ^/^^ /«• 
fo provoked the Saracens, that they returned, and raged '^'^^f '^^ 
with more fury than ever. They afterwards made a de- '^P^^^ 
fcent upon Rhodes, and took a great number of prifoners ; 
but their fleet fuffered much by a violent ftorm, which over- 
took them as they were returning home *. The fame yqar 
Nicephorus.manied his fon Saturacius to Theophania, a 
near relation of the late emprefs Irene, though (he had 
been fome time before contradlcd to another 5 a ftep which 
gave occafion to ^great complaints, and encouraged fometo^ 
confpire againft him : but they were all dete£ked and pu-" 
niflied with the utmoft feverity ; many perfons of great 
diftindion, eccleHaftics as well as laymen, being, upon bare 
fiifpicions, dragged to prifon, and there either put to death, 
or racked with the greateft cruelty. 

In the feventh year of his reign the Bulgarians, making Yr. of Fl. 
an irruption into the empire, under the condu£t of Cru- 3i«a« 
mus their king, furprifed Sardica, a city of Moefia^ and put ^* ^' ^®^* 
the whole garrifon, confiding of fix thoufand men, to the '^*** 

fword. Nicephorus marched againft them with a confider- ^^^ » . 
able army ; but the enemy retiring with their booty at his rians tak$ 
approach, inftead of purfuing them, fie returned to Con- Sarttka, 
ftantinople, and impofed a new tribute upon the city for 
repairing Sardica ; which incenfed them to fuch a degree, 
that they rofe iri a tumultuous manner, and attacked the ^ 
palace, but were repulfed by the emperor's guards with 
great flaughter. In the ninth year of his reign he raifed a 
powerful army, and marching at the head of it, entered the 
country of the Bulgarians, which he ravaged "with fire and 
fword. Crumus, their king, alarmed at his approach, fent 
ambafiadors to fue for peace, which he oflPered to conclude 
npon termi highly honourable to the empire : but Nicepho- ^ierph* 
rus, rcje£ling them with indignation, purfued his ravageSy ^'^ ^^' 
wafting the country, deftroying the cities, and mafllicring ^^/J/^^ 
all the inhabitants who had the misfortune to fall into his thi Bulga* 
bands, without diftin£tion of fex, age, or condition. Cru- riwiu 
mus, fenfibiy afieSed with the calamities of his fubje^is, 
fent the emperor a fecond fubmiffive meflage, offering to 
agree to any terms, on condition he would quit his coun« 
try : but Nicephorus difmiffing the ambafladors with fcom, 
Crumus, impelled by defpair, attacked unexpe&edly the 
emperor's camp ; and having forced it, in fpite of all op- Heisde' 

pofition, cut ofFalrtioft the whole army, with the emperor fi^**^^^ 

- - ■ * Ram. 

* Tbeof h. ad Ann. Niceph. i«-i6t Ccdren. ibid. 

£3 himfelf^ 



Q^ Tki Conjlantinopolitan Hifiory. 

Yr. of Fl. Mmfclf^ a S^^^ number of patricians, and moft of the chief 
3113* officers. Sataracius received a dangerous wound in the 
A. D. ?oi. n^ck, but efcaped in a litter to Adrianople. All the arms 
*V«'5*V 2,jj| baggage fell into the enemy's hands. The body of Ni- 
cephorus being found among the ilain, Crumus caufed his 
head to be cut off; and^ after having kept it for fome time 
expofed to the view of the foldiery, he inclofed the fcuH in 
filver, and made ufe of it inftead of a cup *. Such was the 
end of Mfcephorus, after having reigned eight years, as 
many months, and twenty-fix days. He is faid to have been 
ftrongly inclined to the execrable doftrine of the Mani- 
chec^i to have denied Providence, and to have exceeded 
all the priticcs who reigned before him in lewdnefs, cruelty, 
avarice, and all manner of debaucheries •*. 
fatufaitus. Sntnracius fled to Adrianople, where he was acknowleged 
empeifor by fome of the officers who had efcaped the gene- 
ral flaughter. Not being in a condition, on account of his 
wound, to ap^af in public, and knowing himfelf to be uni- 
. . vcrfaily hated by the nobility and people, he refolvcd to 

Uic^otl confer, the empire on his wife Thcophania. In the mean 
^r6€.Utmta. ^jjj^ ^j^^ fcnate caufed Michael, who had married Procopia, 
* ~ filler to Saturacius, to be proclaimed emperor in the circus \ 
\' a circumftance which Saturacius no fooner underflood 
...... :. than he retired with hi« wife to a monaftery, where he 

embraced a reHgious life, and died foon after, having^ 

reigned two months and ten days. Michael, mindful of 

the oath he had taken to Nicephorus and his fon, declined 

at firft the imperial dignity; but being afterwards informed^ 

^It Saturaci.ttd> the better to fecure the crown to his wife, 

had refolved to. deprive him of his fight, he accepted the 

<>fFer, and was crowned in the great church by Nicephorus 

tih.€ patriarchy after be had by a folemn promife under his own 

hitni. obUged.bim to rtiaintain the privileges of the churchy 

Tahs hU 2XiA to. abftaii) from flieddlng Chriftian blood ^ The new 

Jon for his, emperor, a.fbw day« after, caufed his wife Procopia to be 

€(t^ i^&ui* mj^^j(^ croiimcd by the patriarch with his fon Theophy- 

bflj whbm be took for his partner inrthe empire. He was 

. licarce feated .on his throne^ when the Saracens, broke into 

the empire dn one fide, and the Bulgarians on the other. 

The former were defeated and driven back by Leo, who 

governed the caftern provinces^ with the lofs of two thou- 

Yr. of Fl* fand ttitt- Againft the Bulgarians Michael marched in 

3i«5' perfoii \ but having, after feveral flight fkirmiihes, ventured 

A..p. 8o>. ^^ engagement, bis artny was utterly defeated, and himfelf 

» Theopb. ad Ann. Niceph. 9, * Cpdren, Zonar. in Nicepb« ^ 

« TUcopb. ^A Ana* I^eph. 9« . 

obliged 



Tie ConfioHtinc^olitdn Hiftoty. gjf 

.obliged to fly wi(;h ihame and difgrace to Gonftantinoyki. Defeated , 
The emperor was affected with this misfortune to fueh a by the Bul^ 
degree, that he rcfolvcd to quit the purple, which required g^^'^u . 
a perfon of a more warlike and aflive genius, »nd retire t^ fj'*' 'W*'' 
^ cioyfter. Accordingly he earneftly prcfled Leo to ac* 
jcept of the empire, who, as he was free from all ambittgny 
inviolably attached to Michael, and at the fame time fenfible ' 
of the dangerous ftate of affairs, was with difficulty pre* 
vailed upon to comply with his requeft, though backed by 
the intreaties' of the magiftrates, the foldiery, ai^d the pa^ 
triarch. Michael no fooner underilood that Iieo had fuf** 
fered himfelf to be proclaimed emperor^ than he retired 
with his wife Procopia, and his children, to the monaftery 
of Pbaru?, where he took the monadic habit on the ele? * 

Tenth of July, 803, after having reigned one yeaf, nina 
Aionths, and as many days ^* 

The new emperor, upon his arrival at Conftantinople^ 
took care to have Michael and his wife Separated : he there** 
fore confined him to a monaftery on the ifland Prota, and 
banifhed Procopia, with her children, to another place, 
having firft caufed Theophylaft, their eldeft fon, to be 
cruelly maimed, that he might have no ifluc •. He had 
icarce taken pofTelTion of the throne, when the Bujgariana, 
elated with their late fuccefs, entered Thrace, and ravaged 
the country without mercy. Leo, having drawn together 
his forces, offered them battle ; which they not declining,- 
great numbers were flain on both fides, but at length the, 
Romans were put to the rout. As they were pwrfued hy* Hi gains 
the enemy in great diforder, Leo, who beheld all from zacompUtg 
neighbouring eminence, falling unexpe<3edly upon the Bar-- 'fnfforj 
barians with a referve of chofen men who attended him,* ^^[j^^ 
renewed the fight, and in the end obtained an entire vie- ,./^ff/ 
tory. Great numbers o( the enemy were flain, and more, 
taken prifoners. Some reckon the king himfelf, by name 
Crumi:^, among the former \ but others fay he was only 
wounded.. It is certain, that the Bulgarians were fo dil* 
heartened by this overthrow> that they made no inroads 
into the empire for fome years after ^ The emperor, hav- 
ing now nothing to fear either fromi the Bulgarians or the 
Saracens, who were at variance among thcmfelves, applied' 
himfelf wholly to the fuppreffion of image-worfiiip. He Uttpp^fei 
enforced the obfervance of the council held at Con(lanti«- the vW*- 
nople, under Conftantiaus Copronymu^, and publifhed an fi^ ff 
edid forji^idding any worQiip to be paid to images, and com* imagtu 

. * Tb«pph. ad Ann. Micb. %^ * Zonar. Cedren« ia Mich. ^ . 

' Idem ibid. * " 



•«.- 



£ 4 mandlnj 




E$ 3%e Conjiantinopolitan Hjfiory. 

snanding them to be removed from the churches. Nice* 
phorus the patriarchy Nicetas a patrician j and one of the 
iemprefs Irene's relations, Theodorus a monk in great re- 
putation, Theophanes the hiftorian, and many others, were 
baniihed for refufing to comply with the emperor's edi£l. 
talhts While he was wholly intent upon redrefling the abufes 

€on/p:riMg both in church and ftate, Michael, furnamed Balbas, or 
^ainfl {]}^ Stammerer, whom he had preferred to the firft cmploy- 
fi^dand '^^^"l^** confpired againft him, with a dcfign to deprive him 
loudtmntd* ^ ^^^ crown, and place it upon bis own head ; but the 
plot being difcovered, Michael was apprehended, tried, and 
condemned to be burnt alive. As the officers were leading 
him, on Chridmas eve, to the place of execution, the em- 
prefs Theodofia, upbraiding her hufband with cruelty and 
^ irreligion for not rcfpc£ting that holy time, when he was 

to partake of the bleifed facrament, prevailed upon him t6 
refpite the execution. However, that the criminal might 
not in the mean time make his efcape, the emperor ordered 
him to be loaded with irons, of which he kept the keys 
himfelf : but Michael having, by means of fome religious 
perfons, who had been admitted to him with the emperor's 
permiffion, acquainted his accomplices, that he was deter- 
/nined to difcover them to Leo, unlefs they fpeedily pro- 
cured his releafe, alarmed them to fuch a degree, that they 
refolved, without lofs of time, to put their defign in exe«) 
cution. Accordingly, mixing (hemfelves with thofe who 
performed divine fervice in the emperor's chapel, they were 
admitted early in the morning into the palace, and lay con- 
cealed in a corner of the chapel till the emperor came to his 
devotions ; whep, upon a fignal agreed on beforehand, they 
' ftarted up, but, by miftake, as it was not yet day-light, fell 
upon thfc pcrfon who preHded over the clerks, or, as wc 
lAay call him^ the dean of the chapel. Leo, in the mean 
time, apprifed of their defign, retired to the altar, where 
he was attacked by the confpirators, now fenfible of their 
miftake ; but defended himfelf with the chain of the in- 
cenfory, or, as fom^ write, with the crofs, till one of hia 
f W •«»?- hands being cut off, he fell to the ground, when the conr 
^^^^' fpir2(tors difpatched him with many wounds, and in the end 

ftruck off his head '• 
Yr* of P^ Such was the end of Leo IV. after he had reigned feven 
3133* yearsi five mpnths, and fourteen days. He is allowed, even 
A.D. 8ii. ^y fyj.)^ 33 ^^^^ }^jg avowed enemies on account of his 2ea| 

'^^^^' in fuppceffing the worfbip of images, io have been a vigi-j 



Wts €h0- 



t laat* ifi Tars^C Thf odor. Studit^i f p. l^j. Leo Qnunipat. ii| 

Leon« 



^be QmJiantinopoUtm Utftory* 57 

lant and aaive prince, and to have reformed many abufes 
that bad long prevailed in the date. In conferring employ-? 
ments, he had regard to merit alone, was quite free front 
avarice, and endowed with many princely qualities ; whence 
the patriarch Nicephorus, who bad been banifhed by him, 
on hearing the news of his death, could not help owning 
that he was a great, though a wicked prince. The body 
of the unhappy emperor was dragged to the circus, and 
there cxpofed for fome time to public view. The confpi- 
raters, having feized on the epiprefs Theodofia, confined 
her to a monaftery, and banifhed her four fons, Sabbatius 
caUeci> alfo Conftantine, Bafil, Gregory, and Theodofius, 
to the ifland Prota, where they were afterwards made eu- 
nuchs by Michael's order, under which cruel operation 
Theodofius died. Michael being fet at liberty, and con- ^albui 
du£led by the conspirators, from the prifon to the palace, prodamUi 
placed himfelf upon the imperial throne, loaded, as he ftill tmperor, 
was, with his irons, the keys being no where found : at 
leagth being difincumbered, he repaired to the great chureh, 
where he was crowned by the patriarch. 

Michael, thus raifed to the empire, was a native of Amo« 
rium, a city of Phrygia, inhabited chiefly by Jews and fuch 
Cbriftians as had been driven from their own countries on 
account of their heretical opinions- Michael himfelf 6b- 
fervcd the Jewifli fabbath, denied the refurredion of the 
dead, and held feveral other tenets condemned by the Ca« 
tholic church **. In the firft year of his reign he recalled a 
great number of bilhops, monks, and others, who had been 
baniflied by Leo for not complying with his edi£l forbidding 
the worftiip of images, but at the fame time fummoned He is an 
theni to difpute, in a council at Conftantinople, the point f»^*iy"* 
in queftion. With this fummons they refufed to comply, *^^&^^' 
sieging, that as the worihipping of images had been al- 
ready approved of and ^ftablifhed by a general council, it 
could admit of no difpute. This anfwer greatly provoked 
the emperor, who neverthelefs was fo far from proceeding 
with rigour againft them, that he indulged them in the ufe 
of images without the city. In the fecond year of his reign, 
a civil war broke out in the Eaft, which involved the em- 
pire in endlefs calamities. It was raifed by one Thomas, Thomas 
concerning whom authors are greatly divided in their ac- revolts in 
counts. According to fome, he was meanly born, and at *^' ^^J^' ^ 
firft a menial fervant to a fenator at Conftantinople, whofe 
wife he debauched, and then, to avoid the puniftiment due 
)9 his crime^ fled to the Saracens, among whom^ after he 

^ Cc^ren, ih Micl^i 

bad 



j8 ^^^ Omfiatitin&politan Hiftory. 

bad (Continued for the fpftce of twenty-five years, pfofellmg 

tbeir religion, he obtained of their kalif a confiderable foody 

of troops, boafting that he. could eafily fubdue the whole 

Roman empire^ The better to .entice the Romans over to 

bis intereft, he gave out, that he was Conftantine, the fon 

•f Irene. Others will have him to have been a man of 

great power in the Eaft, and inviolably attached to Leo^ 

Wbofe death he refolved to revenge, and with that view 

t6ok arims. He was a man of a grave afpe£^, of extraordi* 

tiary ftrength and courage, and acceptable to the foldiery on 

account of his affable and engaging behaviour. Being well 

J^^*f^. received in the eaftern provinces by the inhabitants, who 

mafia' of ^^^'^^ Michael, be foon raifed a very numerous army, and 

Afiaand over*ran, without control, all A(ia, feizing every where 

Sjria» on the public revenues, and plundering fuch cities as refufed 

to obey his commands. 

And now being mafter of all Afia and Syria, he affiimed 
tike .purple and diadem, and caufed bimfelt to be acknow* 
legcd as emperor by the patriarch of Antioch. Michael, 
in the mean time, . difpatched all the troops he could a& 
(emble againft him ; but Thomas, meeting them in Afia, 
gave them a^ total overthrow. Having with incredible ex*-: 
pedition fitted out a ftrong fleet> he engaged and defeated 
that of the emperor ; and then cfofTmg Over into Thrace, 
Befie^es appeared uncxpeftedly before Conftantinople, not doubting 
tinobU^ but the inhabitants would open their gates to htm. at his 
firft approach. But, to his great furprize, they received him 
with opprobrious language, repulfed himi in two fucceifive 
* attacks, and in feveral failles killed great numbers of his 

men. Thomas made the necefTary preparations for a third 
afiault, being refolved to make an extraordinary effort, and 
attack the city at the fame time by fea arid land. But a 
violent ftorm anting, when he was upon the point of giv* 
ing the fignal, his fleet was difperfed, and his battering en- 
gines overturned, and rendered quite ufelefs. This di(ap* 
pointment, and fome fuccefsful fallies of the befieged, ob-. 
liged him, as the feafon was already far advanced, to raife 
the fii^ge, and put his troops into wiuter^quarters, but with 
a refolution to return before the city early in the fpring ; 
when he refumcd his operations accordingly : but Michael, 
having in the mean time equipped a fleet, and raifed a 
land-army, he met with greater oppotition at his return 
than he had experienced before. His army was routed with* 
great flaughter in a faily, and bis &ct driven afhore by. that, 
of the emperor. 

The'ufurper had in his army a commander of great va- 
lour and experience^ naaitd Gregory, who having been 

banifhed 



The Conftafftinopolitan Hlfiory. co 

bdniflied b^ Michael to the ifland of Sciru», bdcaufe he was- 
a ndar relation of Leo, the late eihparor, had in the begin« 
ning of the war declared for the ufurperi and been entruft- 
ed by him with the eommand of twelve thoufand men ft. 
but now obferving that fortune* which had hitherto at- 
tended Thomas in all his undertakings, began to forfake 
him, he refolved to make his pe«ice With Michael^ the ra-^ 
ther becaufe his wife and children were in his bands. Thit 
negociation was not carried on fo privately but Thotna# 
had timely notice of it, who leaving a fufficient numberof 
troops before Conftantinople to carry on the fiege, led the 
reft againff Gregory ; and coming up with him, while bc^ 
was marching away with the forces under his command to 
join the emperor, defeated his whole party, took him alive, Difeait 
put him immediately to death, and then returned in tri- and puts to 
umph to purfue the ficge. In the mean time Mortagon, ^'^'^ ^j;'- 
king of the Bulgarians, hearing the emperor was befieged ^^J'w^/* 
in his metropolis, and either pitying his condition, or de- bttrayhinL 
firous of gaining his friendfhip, marched at the head of a 
numerous army to his alTiAanee. Thomas, when informed 
of his approach, was fome time in fufpenfe> whether he 
fliould continue the Hege, ot march with all his forces 
igainft the Barbarians ; but at length refolved on the latter 
expedition. Accordingly breaking up the fiege, he met and // defeattd 
engaged the Bulgarians at a place called Cedo£lus, but was ^ '^' ^"'^ 
defeated with great flaughter. garians. 

Upon the news of his defeat, his fleet before Conftan^ 
tinople revolted to the emperor *, a defe(!i%ion which obliged 
him to lay afide all thoughts of puifuing the fiege, andre^ 
tire to Diabefis, a place diftant a few furlongs from th^ 
city; whence by his parties he laid walle all. the neigh- 
bouring country. While he lay encamped in this fituatioa» 
the emperor ordered all his troops to march out againi^ 
htm, under the command of Catacelas and Olbianus, whom 
he received with great bravery, but was overthrown by tbe 
treachery of his own men, moft of whom went over to 
the emperor in the heat of the eilgagement. Thomas^ 
with great difficulty, efcaped to Adrianople, where he wap 
immediately befieged by the emperor's forces, and at length 
delivered up to Michael by his own people, no longer abl^ 
to endure the famine, and the unfpeakable' hardfliips to 
which they were reduced. The emperor, having caufed Is put to 
his hands and feet to be cut off, ordered him, thus maim- ^i^^» 
cd, to be carried upon an afs round the camp. He died 
foon after in the utmoft agony. Anaftafius, his adopted 
fon, who for that honour had forfaken the (nonaftic life, 
which he profefTed before^ being delivered up to the em- 
peror 



6o The Conftantinopolitan Hifiory. 

peror by the inhabitants of Byria, met with the fame treat- 
ment liis father had undergone. Pavium and Heraclea, 
two maritime cities of Thrace, which Thomas had feized^ 
i^fttfed to fubmity not fo much out of afFedion to him, as 
from hatred to the emperor, on account of his oppoQng the 
worihip of images. But the walls of the former city were 
. OYerturned by an earthquake, and the latter was taken by 
ftorm. Some other cities and caflles continued to hold out 
for fome time ; but they were all in the end reduced, and 
the civil war was entirely extinguifhed *. 

The Saracens, who had fettled in Spain, and were grown 
too numerous for that country, taking advantage of the 
di(lra£^ed ftate of the empire, equipped feveral fhips, and 
fcnt them in qucft of fome fruitful ifland, in which, theyi 
might plant a colony. Apochapfus, who commanded this 
fquadron, having ravaged moft of the iflands in the Medi- 
terranean without oppofition, touched in the end at Crete ; 
and being much pleafed with the fertility and pleafantnefs 
of that ifland, defcribed it to his countrymen upon his re- 
turn as a place flowing with milk and honey. In confe- 
*rkf Sara' ^uence of this information, the Saraceris, having equipped, 
fens land during the winter, a fleet confiding of forty ftiips, well 
in CreUp armed and manned, put to fea early in the fpring 5 and 
landing in the ifland, encamped on the promontory Cha- 
rax, whence Apochapfus fent fpies to difcoverthe country, 
who upon their return informed him, that the ifland was 
quite deftitute of foldiers ; and that he would no where 
.^ . meet with the leaft oppofition. He forthwith ordered the 

^ri» ^^^ ^® ^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^> ^^^^ ^*^ men, laying afide all thoughts 

of returning home, might look upon that ifland as their 

native country. The emperor, upon the firft notice of this 

defcent, difpatched Damianus, with a confiderable body of 

troops, to drive the Saracens out of the ifland. This officer 

being joined by Photinus, advanced, as foon as he had 

landed his forces, againft the enemy, who killed him at the 

lirft onfet, and put his whole army to flight, Photinus 

having with great difficulty made his efcape in a light vef- 

fcl, and carried the' news of the overthrow to the emperor. 

-- -p. The Saracens, having now no enemy to oppofe them, 

'^'j ^ ' built and fortified a city in a very convenient place, caUed 

A. D. S12. Cbandax, pointed out to them by a monk. Trom thence 

^t^ '535* .they made frequent excurfions, and in a ihort time reduced 

^ the whole ifland, which by its new m afters was thenceforth 

'Theiityof ^j^lled Chandax, and by others Cnndia, from the above 

buiitl^ mentioned city. Michael, as foon as he had ended the 

> Cedreo. ii^ Mich* 



The Conftantinopolitan Hijlory. 6i 

civil war, difpatched Craterus, with a powerful fleeti and 
a numerous army, to recover the ifland* Craterus having 
landed his men without oppofition, fell upon the enemy 
with great refolution, who received him with equal intre- 
pidity. The fight continued from day-break till noon, the 
vidory inclining to neither fide ; but foon after the Sara- 
cens, having loft great numbers of men, began to give 
ground, and towards the evening fled in great confufion. 
Had the Romans purfued them, they might have eafiiy cut 
them all off, and made themfelves mafters of their city ; 
but, inftead of following the fugitives, and afTaulting, with- 
out lofs of time, the place whither they had retired, they 
fpent the night in riot and excefs, without fo much as 
placing a guard or centry, to prevent their being furprifed* 
The enemy, informed of their fecurity, refolved, however 
fatigued with the duty of the preceding day, not to negle£b 
fo favourable an opportunity of being revenged on the con- 
querors : accordingly fallying out in the night, they fell 
upon them while they were intoxicated with wine, and cut Thampt* 
them off almoft to a man. Craterus, their general, with ror** forces 
great difEculty, efcaped on board a fmall veffel to the ifland ^f'^^^^ 
of Cos : but the prince of the Saracens, not finding his 
body among the flain, difpatched fome veiTels with troops, 
who landing on the ifland, furprifed, and nailed him to a 
crofs. After this defeat, the emperor, defpairing of being 
able to recover the ifland of Crete, contented himfelf with 
defending the other iilands, and reftraining the piracies of 
the Cretan Saracens *^. fiefides the lofs of the pleafant and Sevtrtd 
fruitful ifland of Crete, feveral other public calamities hap- pMu ri- 
pened in this wicked emperor's reign, fuch as great confla- '^*^'''^* 
grations, deftru£live earthquakes which overturned whole 
cities, inundations, ftrange phenomena in the heavens, ge- 
neral dearth and fcarcity of provifions, and violent ftorms ; 
which are all afcribed by Cedrenus to Michael's contempt 
of images. But thefe calamities did not reclaim him from 
the looie and diflblute life which he led without any regard 
to religion or the laws : in the fixth year of his reign, his 
wife being dead, he forced Euphrofyne, the daughter of 
Conflantine Porphyr6genituS| out of a monaftery, where 
file had led from her infancy a reclufe life, and married 
her. Soon after this violation, Euphemius, an officer of 
great intereft and authority in the army, falling in love with 
another facred virgin, and encouraged by the example of 
the prince, took her by force out of the monaftery, and 
debauched her. Of this outrage her brothers m'ade loud 

k Cedren. ia Mick 

com* 



6f 7if Cof^antinoplitan Hificny. 

cpmpUints to the emperor, who ordered the governor of 
Sicilf , where the fa^ was committed) to examine into the 
n^atter » and if he found what was alleged againft Euphe* 
miv^ to be true, to cut o^ his nofe. To avoid this pu- 
mfliment, Eupbemius drew feverai other officers of the 
army into a confpiracy j repulfed the governor, when he 
came to execute \(is orders ; and then flying to the Sara- 
cens in Africa, promifed to betray Sicily into their hands, 
aqd pay them a hirge tribute, provided they would declare 
Euphemius him emperor of the Romans. To this projeft the Saracen 
^i^" * ''^ governor of Africa readily confented ; and having acknow- 
Jy ^theSa- ^^g^^ '^^"^ empcror, fent him back with a fufficicnt number 
racins* of troops to fupport his title. He landed in Sicily without 
oppofition \ and advancing to Syracufe, endeavoured, by a 
flattering fpeech, to perfuade the inhabitants who (lood on 
/ the walls, to open their gates to him, and own him for 

emperor. Obfe.rving two brothers, who were men of great 
intereil in the city, liften to him with particular attention^ 
he defired they would come and confer with him : but as 
he advanced from the reft of his company to meet and fa- 
lute them, one of them, taking hold of him by the hair» 
// h\lUd> held him till the other cut off his head. The Saracens, 
however, did not quit the advantage which he had put into 
their hands $ but being thus introduced, made tbemfelves 
by degrees mafters of the whole ifland ; and paffing over 
into Italy, landed at Taranto, whence they drove the ft.o- 
maa.s, and got pofieflion of Calabria, and the adjoining 
yikhmd provinces ^ 1 he emperor died foon after this invafion, of 
dia^ a flux, having reigned eight years, nine months, and feven 

days ; and wa^ buried in the church of the Apoftles. His 
death happened on the firft of Odober 820. 
Yr. of Fl. He was fucceeded by Ms fon Theophylus, who, in the be- 
3 t68. ginning of his reign, to gain the afFedions of the people and 
A. D. 820. prevent confpiraeics, pretended to be a ftri«!l: obferver o£ 
• • '^^^' juftice, and a fevere aflerror of the laws of the empire* 
theophylus. Though his father owed both his life and dignity to the mur- 
der of 1jS,o^ yet be refolv^d to punifli all tbofe who bad been 
acceflary to it, in order to deter others from attempts of 
the like nature. With this vi«w hefummoned the chief of 
the nobility, and the great officers of the empire, to attend 
him in the palace Magnaiira, or, as it was called from the 
five towers, Pentapyrgiiim. When they were affembled, 
he told them, that bis father had in his lifetime refolved 
to reward the eminent fervices of thofe who bad been in- 
ftrament»l ia his promotion \ but fince death had prevented 

> Cedrem in Midi* Ano. |»' Zonar. p* x;}. 

liimy 



The Cof^^tlmpoUtM Hfftoxy^ 6j 

him, he thought it incumbent upon himfelf, as the execu* 
tor of his father, to p»y that debt. He therefore defired 
them to withdraw from the reft into a particular room^ 
where he would examine the merit of each perfon, and re- 
ward him accordingly. Thofe who had been acceifary to 
t^e murder of Leo, readily difcovered themfelves, in ex« 
pediation of fome great reward : but the emperor having HipU' 
thus convi£led them by their own confeffion, ordered one ni/bn th 
of his officers to put the laws agajnft murder in execution » f^^^derers 
and to puniih, according to their deferts, thofe who had ^^ '^* 
not only flied innocent bloody but had inhumanly maflacred 
the anointed of the Lord within his temple, v He then dif- 
luiifed the aiTembly, and the officer, purfuant to. his orders^ 
punifhed all thofe who bad confpired againft Leo as mur- 
derers °*. 

After this execution he fent Eupfarofyne back to the mo^ 
nafiery, from vvhence his father had taken her, and applied 
himfelf with great diligence to public affairs, hearing once 
a week all complaints that were brought againft his minif- 
ters, adminiftring juftice with the utmoft impartiality, and 
frequently viliting iii perfon the markets,' in order to fettle 
the prices of provifionsf. In the third year ofvhis reign he Marrigs 
married his favourite daughter, named Mary, to Alexius ^'^ daugk* 
Mofeles, an Armenian by birth, a perfon of comely and ^T ^'. 
majeftic afpe£l, then In the flower of his age, and endowed MofeUs 
with many excellent qualities. He conferred, upon him the 
dignity of patrician, raifed him to the proconfulfliip, ai}d 
at laft, as he had no iffiie male of his own, created him 
Csefari and fent him at the head of a numerous army to re- 
drain the Saracens, who committed dreadful devaftations 
in Italy. Alexius being attended with uncommon fuccefs, 
in this expedition, his rivals at court, jealous of the efteem 
be was in with the emperor, and the reputation he had ac- 
quired, reprefented him as one who afpired to the empire, 
ftrengtfaening their malicious fuggeftions with an old pre- 
di^on, that " A (bould one day drive out Th." Thefe in- 
trigues Alexius no fooner underftood, than he defired leave 
of Theopbylus to retire, and embrace a monaftic life. The 
empexor, who gave no ear to. thefe infinuations, denied his 
Fequeil, and commanded him to keep his rank and power, tvho em* 
However, Theopbylus having a fon foon after, and his ^'•^^' /» 
daughter, who was married to Alexius, dying about the fame ^r*^^^ 
time, he was at length prevailed upon, by the repeated im- 
portunities of his ion*in-law, to comply with his requeft, 
and fufier him to retire. Befides Alexius, the emperor had 

V 

» ]^nti* Curopal. in Tbeopbyl* 

two 



64 sra^ QmftantinopoUtaH Bijlory: 

» 

two other eminent commantlers, Manuel and Thcopliobus. 
The former had been raifed by Leo, and the late emperor Mi- 
• cfaael, to the firft pods in the army. The latter was a na- 
tural fonof aPerfian ambaflador, defcended from the blood 
royal of that nation, who dying foon after the birth of hisi 
fon/Ieft him at Conrfantinople, where he was educated 
after the Roman manner. All thofe of the royal family of 
Perfia being either deftroyed or expelled by the Saracens, 
who had made themfelves matters of their country, the few 
Perfians, who had outlived the general flaughter of their na* 
tion, hearing of Theophobus, fent to the emperor, defiring 
him for their king : but Theophylus chofe rather to raifc 
•bim to the rank of a patrician, and give him one of his fif- 
ters in marriage, granting at the fame time, by a law en- 
a£ted for that purpofe, all his fubjefts leave to intermarry 
, with the Perfians; a privilege which brought great numbers 

of that nation over to the Komans, who formed them into 
one body, called the Perfian legion, from which the em- 
peror promifed himfelf no fmall fervice in the expedition 
which he was about to undertake againft the Saracens, who 
had invaded the Roman territories. 
9MeRo* Againft them the emperor, attended by Manuel and Theo- 

mans de- phobus, marched in perfon : but in the battle which enfuedy 
^/^ by |.{jg Romans, after a moft bloody and obftinatc conteft, gave 
^gj^j.^^^' ground, and fled in the utmoft confufion. The emperor,* 
with his guards, two thoufand Perfians, and Theophobus, 
gained a neighbouring hill, where he was immediately fur* 
rounded by the enemy, who exerted their utmoft efforts to 
take him prifoner, his own men ftriving with equal refolu- 
tion and intrepidity to defend him. The day being thus 
fpent, when night came on, the Romans, by the advice of 
Theophobus, filled all on a fudden the air with loud accla- 
mations, founding at the fame time their trumpets and 
other warlike inftruments. The Saracens, deceived by this 
ftratagem, and concluding they had received fome rein- 
forcement, retired in great hafte, left they fliould be fur- 
rounded ; and gave the emperor an opportunity of making 
/^ his^efcape to the reft of the army. The Perfians were fo 
charmed witli the conduft of Theophobus on this occafion, 
Y r pt that they addreiTed the emperor, begging, he would fufFer 
*ji7«. them to ferve under him in a'feparate body} a reqiiefl: 
A. D. 8124. which was readily granted. 
U. C. 1572. In the following year the emperor was more fortunate; 

for having engaged the Saracens, he gained a complete vic- 

'^^^def^ ^^^* killed great numbers, and took above twentv thoufand 
7heSara^^ prifoners, whom" he carried in triumph to Conftantinople» 
ctns. This vidory encouraged him to make another attempt next 

ipring; 



The CM/lMfbt^^ia» Mifli^^ 65 

fyrmg \ but hi^* annjr was uMorly defeatedt fta4 himself iil 
great danger of being taken prifoner, while he a4vanced toa 
far ittto the enemy's ranks. "Manuel, apprifed of the danger 
he was m» bfoke through with a body of ehofeii men, in 
order xo bring him off; .but he refufing to retire, left bla 
retreat fliould diicourag^ his army, Manuel prefeoting his 
fword €0 bis brcaft, and teUii^' him» that the ftate would 
fuftr more by his c^^ivity tharl by his death, threatened to 
kill btniy. unlefs he retreated to the reft of the army. The 
empemci thea ccimplji8d» Manuel, and his chofen baad» 
cpening hiin a w»y through the rai^ft of the enemy. Thep- 
nhyluft bad, at fii-ft^ s^ jiift fenfe of this eminent piece of 
lervice^ Ayling Bfaniftel his; deliverer; but afterwards envy- Hh ingra^ 
ingbim duB reputatba.hprhadaequired> and alhtmed of be* ^^"^^ji 
iagindisbtedtoQaitf.of bitliibjp^forbisfafety, readily.gave ^^"^^ 
ear to tke malicicms iniiniiatiocis of fome courtiers, accufing * -r . * 
bim of. amUtiotts views,- add privately neiblved* lo deprive 
him of his fight ; of lirhich Aefign Manuel bdng feafonably 
informed by the emperar'^ tup^bear^r, fa^ fied to the Sara« ^i^ Ma 
cens, and, upon condition he ihould not be obliged to ^f^-^^ 
change his rdigton, cittexed into their jEervioe« He was ^^^^ ^ 
foon raifed to the higheft honours, and trufted with the 
command of their armlet' againft jthe Cermiatae, aneigh«« 
houring nation, whom he oi^ercame in feveral battles. The 
fame of bis great exploits reaching Conftantinople, the em^ 
peror, grieved for the lofs of fo bj^ve and faithful a com* 
minder, refolved to bring him back by any means. Ac<* 
oordingly he wrote a letter to Manuel with his own haod^ in^ 
viting him home, and promifing to reinftate him In all his 
faonoiirs and employments. This letter bdng privately 
conveyed to Manuel by a> monk, he received it with un«* 
fpeakable joy, and waited only a favourable opportunity of 
complying with the emperor's kind invitation. He had hi«-< 
therto declined fighting againft the Romans ; but now prc^ 
tending a defire of bentg revenged on thofe by whom he 
had been unjuftly accufed to the emperor, be defired leave 
of Iflimae], prince of the Saracens/ to make war upon the 
Romans in Cappadocia. Ifhmael, highly pleafed with this ^ 

demand, not only gave him the conmiand of a powerful 
army, but as he had already exhibited fignaL proofs of his^ 
fidelity, 'a]>pointed the young prince his fon to ferve under 
bim« Being arrived in Cappadocia, while the armv lay en* 
camped at a convenient place for the execution 01 bis de* 
fign, he went out with the young prince^ under pretence 
of hunting ; and being met, as had been agreed on between htariittrm 
him and the governor of tfas provmeei by fome Roman i9tkiR§* 
Vol. XV, F troops» 



64 fbe ConftanihtdpoKfM Hift&iyi 

troop&i he aequaiifited the pftKee iit^th bit defign^ defirmg 
him to return to th^ army. 

From Cappadocia he immediately repaired to^ Conftan- 
tinople, where he was received with great folemnity by the 
emperor in the church of Belchemse, raifed to the higheft 
poft in the army, and chofen to be godfather to bis fon Mi- 
chael, whom he foon after took for bis partner in the efn^- 
. pire. In the courfe of the following year the Saracens in- 
vaded Cappjidocia, under a general of tbeir own>natioD^ 
and the emperor marched againft tbeni in perfon ^ but both 
armies, feized, while they were in fight of each other, 
with a panic, fled with precipitation^ and returned borne, 
without coming to an engagement. Tbeophylas afterwards 
invaded Syria, ravaged the country^: and having niade him- 
felf mafter of. feveral fertreffes, returned in triuiiq>h to Coii*> 
Tki Pir- ftantinople, leaving Theophobus tftcommand thenrmy. In 
Jans mioh- yg alienee the Perfians, increafing to thirty thoii£nid« dc- 
^' pending upon their ftrength and numbers, feized on Theo^' 

y^ phobiis at Sinope $ and, notynthftandtng all his entreaties, 
^hi fidelity protcftations and arguments, declared him emperor. Tbeo- 
tfThfoffM*^ phobus gave,the emperoif pri^te notice x)f what had p^fied, 
'^* afTured him of his loyalty, though he had^ in appearance, 

accepted of the imperiat dignky : he feized the firft op* 
portunity that offered, to make his e&ape tor Conftantinople^ 
where he. was received by the emperor with the greateftxfe- 
monftrations of kindnefs, and continned in bis former faroi* 
nours and eoipfoyments. TherebeUioiis Perfians were, at 
his reqfucAv Pardoned, and received into favour^ but. dif*; 
perfedinla*feteraL provinces "*. 

'. TheophyJus,^ in ravaging Syria, had, notwithAandingtbe. 

earaeft intreaties of the prince' of the SaracenSfdeftroyed 

7he Sara* Sozopetra^ the place of his nativity ; an- infult which pro- 

'^"y*2 ^wked Him to fuch a degree, that he raifed a powerful army. 



ocdertng every foldier to engrave upon 'his ihield the word 



^uacie the 

Amorium, the birth-place of Thcophylus,- and capital of 
Cilicia, which he w.as refolred, at all events, to deftaroy* 
The emperor, informed of thefe preparations, raifed a bddy 
of forces, and marched wttfa" them, to Doryls^m, diftant 
dyout .-three days: journey from! Amorium^v)^ Tliere^ in a 
<s>uncil of war,! T&ver^l officers adviCed him to decline an 
engagement with the Saracens, whofe aimy was mqre nn*. 
merbt&s than that of the Romans, And to remove the in- 
babitaiits off Amorium to foihe other place: but the empe- 
ror, imagtnibg.fueh a ftep wonU refie£i; no fmaU< d]%raGe 

./, /v. . . :. ^ Josiiib; Cjuropal^ in Tht^ph, . Zc|aiarf Oedrcn, ibid*. 

upon 



t W « - rJ 



^i' Cdnftaniinapo&tan Hjfl^ryi 67 

tipon fainiy refolved to venture sill in dcfencd of his'^tiatire 
ctt]r : accordingly he fent thither a ftrotlg detachment under 
the command of Aetius, getferal of the £aft, Theodoras 
CratentSy Theophjlus Bubut^icus, and other experienced 
generals. In the itiealn time the prince of the Saraicens dif-« 
patched his fon, with ten thoufand Turks, and a ftrong 
party of Armenians, to try the ftrength of the emperor's 
forces. The two armies met at a place called Daiymexium } 
and an engagement enfuing, the Saracens Wefe at firft put 
to the rout ; bat the Romans, in purfuing the fugitives^ 
were fo galled by the arrows of the Turks, that they not Defeat tig 
only gave over the purfuit^ but fled in adifofderly manner. ^«*^'' 

The Perfians, however, though abandoned by the reft 
of the army, ftood their ground, and furroundiiig the em-* 
peror, made head againft the enemy, till night coming on, 
aflbrded them an opportunity of retiring. The prince of 
the Saracens, informed of his fon's fuccefs, marched di-' 
red:ly to AmoriUm, and being there joined by the young Aimrium 
prince, laid clofe (lege to the place, wbicfai after a long taken amd 
and obflinate refiftance, was in the end betrayed to him by ^Mvf^ ' 
one of the inhabitants, named Badiates, whO| upon fome 
difcontent, had abjured the Chriftian religion. The Sara<^ 
cens, enraged at the refolute oppbfition they had met with^ 
put moft of the men to the fword, carried sdl the worsen 
and children into captivity^ and levelled the city with the 
ground. The emperor was fo affe£ied with the deftrudioUf 
of the place, that, falling into a deep melancholy, he ab* 
ftained from all nourifliment, drinking nothing but fnow« 
water^ which threw him into a dyfentery. Being apprifed 
that his end approached, he caufed himielf to be carried to 
Magnaura, and having fummoned the fenate and chief 
officers of the empire to meet him there, he exhorted themi 
in' a pathetic fpeech, to continue faithful to his wife and 
fon, and prote£t them from all treachery. After this eX" Vn of Fl« 
hortation, finking under the afflidion of his mind, and i\U a ^I|^' 
temper of his body, he fainted away» and expired, having ^'q * |** 
reigned twelve years, three months, and twenty days(B)« ' 

He profefled a great enmity to images^ and perfecuted with nitffyku 
feverity thofe who woribipped them* Hence he is painted ^w. 

by 

(B) Joannes Curopalates, had been arrefted upon fome 

whom we have followed in the groundlefs fufpicions, to be cut 

hiftory of this prince-s reign, as ofT, and broaght to him ; and 

the neareft to thofe times, tells . that, touching it with bis htndp 

Qs, that when he was at the he expired, uttering thei<^ 

point of death, he commanded words» '* Neither ihall I be 

the head of Thieophobusi who ' henceforth Theophyltts^ nor 

Fa ~ tboti 



6%. 

Hts eha' 
toQer* 



III, 
Theodora 

TigiHt. 



the O^ofrthK^olHaH H^ofy*. 

by the writct>8 of thofe times ia the Uackeft colours ; but : 
his aflions, even as they are related by his enemies^ fpc^. 
him a prince endowed with many excellent qualities9 an. 
etLzdt obferver of juftice, a true lover of his people^ and aa 
utter enemy to avarice and rapine. He beautified the.city: 
of Conftantinople with qiany ediiicest and fortifitd it with.- 
new walls, which could not, on account of their heifi^ht^ 
by any art be fcaled. He baniflied all loofe and fcandaloiis 
women out of the city, being a great enemy to diflblute* 
nefs, and a pattern of the ancient Roman temperance, 
which he endeavoured to revive by feveral wholfome laws V 
Theophylus was fucceeded by his fon Michael, who be* 
iog then only fix years old, hi^mother Theodora took upon 
her the adminiftration ; which (he began by exerting her 
zeal for the worfliip of images, recalling all thofe who bad 
been banifhed on that account in the late reign, and baniih- 
ing fuch as .differed in opinion from her. She drove from 
bis fee John the patriarch of Conftantinople, and placedt 
Methodius a monk', ai\d zealous patron of images* in iiia 
room, ordering the fecond council of Nice, in which the 
worihip. of images was approved of and eftablilhed, to be 
obferved throjaghout the empire. Having thus, in a £ew 
years^ utterly fupprefied the Iconoclafts* whofe doflrine 
bad prevailed in Conftantinople, and moft cities of the £aft» 
for the fpace of one hundred and twenty years, (he fell, in 
the next place upon the Manicbees, of whom no fewer than 
a hundred thoufand are faid to have been deftroyed. One 
Carbeas, whofe father had been crucified on account of 
his opinion, fled with four thoufand of the fame £eSt to the 
Saracens, and opened them a paflage into the Roman 
territories^ where they ravaged and depopulated whole, pro^ 
vinces. The emperor, having attained the twentieth year 
of bis age, began to think of governing by hiak£dtf, being 
encouraged by Bardas^ brother to Theodora, who promifed 
himfelf great advantages from a change of affiiirs; but.de* 
{pairing of being able to fucceed in his defigns, fo long as 
Manuel and Theo£liftus, whom the late emperor had m* 
pointed tutori to his fon, continued near his perfon, he 
refolved to.xemove them by fome means or other. He had 
icarce taken this refolution, when a mifunderftanding arofe 

• Cedreo. Zonan in Theoph« 

thou. Theophobus (i).'* But of theemperor^sofBceriy with* 
2oQaras and Cedrenus write, out luskiMiwlege(a)« 
that he was put to death by one . . 



("t) Joani CuropI*ia Theogb. 



(2) Cedien* Zonsr* ibid* 

between 



The Canfkuuiwpolitati Htftory.^ 69 

between thoTe two faithful tnitiifters, which Bardas Im- 
proved with fuch art, that Manuel, quitting the court, Ye* ManuHrt^ 
tired to a private life. He being remoyed, Bardas eafily tirtsffm 
perfuaded the emperor, that Tbeoftiftus, having nothing 'w^'* 
kfs in view than the empire, defigned to marry either the 
emprefs or one of her daughters, and to render him inca- 
pable of governing by depriving him of his fight. Upon Thfffi/liii 
thefc malicioust and altogether groundlefs infinuations, ^^^*^ 
Theo£tiftus was, by the young prince's orders, lipprehend- 
ed, dragged to prifon, and there moft inhumanly murdered. 
Michael and Bardas refolved to finiih what they had begun^ 
by removing the emprefs, who, well apprifed of their de- 
fign, to fpare them the crime of ibedding more blood, de- 
termined to retire of her own accord. 

Accordingly, having fummoned the fenate, ifae laid be* V!r. of Fl« 
fore them the prefent condition of the treafury, to obviate, . 3"94' 
by that explanation, the extravagant expences of her fon, \}\q\^^L 
and at the fame time to fhew thci;n how careful and frugal \ 

(he had been during her adminiftration ; for (he had, by a 7A##«- 
commendable isconomy, not only faved the immenfe trea- p^tf*ri* 
fare left by her hufbandi but greatly improved it. Having -^^*'* 
thus given a fair account of her condud, (be refigned her 
power, and quitted the court, to the great fatisfaAion of her 
brother and ion, now at liberty to zQt without reftraint or 
control. However, left (he (nould attempt to refume the 
power (he had fo readily refigned, Michael ordered her, 
and her three daughters, to be (hut up in a monaftery, 
where fhe died foon after of grief ^ Michael, thus freed MickM^s 
from all reftraint, abandoned himfelf to the moft infamous ^^^^^ 
debaucheries, taking pride in imitating Nero, whom he !^^^ 
propofed to himfelf for his pattern, and even feemed to ex- ' 
ceed in all manner of wickednefs. He in a fliort time 
fquandered away the immenfe treafure left him by his mo- 
ther, being always attended by a crew of moft extravagant, 
debauched, and profligate wretches, whom, to expofe to 
ridicule the moft facred things, he often caufed to appear 
in copes and other veftments, in which priefts ufed to offi- 
ciate, and in that apparel to imitate the moft holy fundions 
and ceremonies. One Grylius, the moft profligate of the 
crew, he ftyled patriarch ; others he called metropolitans ; 
and took to himfelf the title of one of the chief bifhops. 
Thus attended he ufed to walk in broad day-light, as in 
proceflion, through the ftreets, imitating and deriding the 
patriarch and his cl6rgy.r Haying once caufed the in- 
fimous Grylius to be apparelled like the patriarch, he fent 

F 3 for 



JO Tke Conjiantlnopolitan K^wy. 

far his mother in the name of Ignatius, whotheh held that 
fee. The emprefs came immediately ; but a8 (he fell^down 
upon her knees to crave his blefling> Gryllus, difcoTering 
himfelf, derided the piety of the good emprefs with inde* 
cent geftures, applauded with a loud laugh of the whole 
HisproiB' aflembly. The diflblute prince, having in a ihort time 
g^iif* wafted all his treafures, was reduced to the neceflity of 
fnelting down and coining certain trees of gold, which had 
been made in the late reign by a bifhop named Leo, the 
greateft artift of his age> and were the admiration of all 
yrho beheld them ; for, among the boughs were difperfed 
feveral golden birds| which, by the help of an engine, fung 
Vr. of Fl. mf^q^louilYf In the year 84B he undertook an expedition 
319^* aeainft the Saracens, and laid fiege to a city on the £u- 
A, I\ U^ ^phrates ( but the befieged fallying out upon the Romans, 
'^^ * while they were at thefr deyotjons on a Sunday, put the 
JUttfJ h ^hole army to flight, and made themfelves mafters of their 
fhg Sara- camp and all their baggage, the empferor himfelf having 
€ifiO ^ with great difficuhy made bis efcape. Two years after this 
expedition, the Saracens entering the Roman dominions 
with an army of thirty thoufand men, put the emperor to 
flight, though at the head of forty thoufand Thracians and 
Macedonians. The lofs of this battle was foon repaired by 
the good fortune of Petronas, the emperor's brother, who 
fal)i|ig pn^xped^dly upon the Saracens in the neighbour- 
}ioqd pf Sphefus, put off the kaliflF himfelf, and his whole 
^rpny, took bi$ foi) prifoner, and returned in tritmiph to 
\t,6f Ft. Cpnftaiitinopljp* Ip 849. the emperor railed his uncle Bar« 
it gtf 7 das, who bad hitherto governed with an abfolute fway, to 
A. D 849* the dignity of Cpefar, in which high ftation be afted in a 
>'i^^f moft arbitrary manner, without the Icaft regard to the laws 
gartiits ^^^ CMftoms of thc empire. He divorced his wife, without 
4riatt4 being able to lay any thing to her charge, and married his 
Cr/4ff pwn niece, |n coniequence of this inceftuous engagement, 
^be patriarch Ignatius refufed to coinmunicate with him on 
the f^aftpf the Epiphany; ^ refii&l which provoked him 
to fuch a degree, that having a^embled a fynod at Conftan* 
tinople, he fuborned feveral falfe witnefles, who accufed 
Ignatius of having murdered hi^ predeceflfor Methodius; 
upon which he was depofipd, apd thrown into prifon, Pho- 
tius being raifed tp jtjie patrif^Ff;hal fee in his rppn» ; a change 
which pccaQoned gre^t difturbances at Conftantinople. 
The Sarapcps, who bad fettled ifl Cicte, whence they were 
iGfpntinually infefting the cosifts pf the empire, made this 
year ^ defcent upon Thrac<^, penetrating far into the count- 
try, and committing every-whcre dreadful ravages. Againft 
j^hpm the «ig9pejror marcl^ed in perfoni attended by Bardas^ 



Tie Oitf/h/amp^an Iftft^ys tr 

andarriTuu(.at a place icalled ChorttS^ ordered hU afmjr to 
encamp, fhe fenrants of Bardas^ whether on purpofc oi; 
unadTifedly, is uncertain^ pitched their mailer's tent on a 
hill^ which overlooked the emperor's pavilion placed in the 
plain. This infult the emperor feemed to refent} and the 
enemies of Bardas at court, laying hold of that opportunity 
to convince the prince.how much reafon he had to be jea- 
lous of fo infoleat and ambitious a favourite, incenfed nim 
to fuch a degree, that he gave them private orders to dif- Hi is mttr* 
patch him; which they executed accordingljr* The foldiers. dind, 
upon the news of his death, began to mutiny^ and would 
have revenged it upon the emperor, had be not privately 
retired from the army, and returned to Conftantinople 4. 

The ruin of Bardas made room for Bafilius> the emperor's 
great chamberlain, and the chief author and promoter of 
the late murder ; for the emperor, who had an utter aver«» 
fion to all manner of bufinefsand application, immediately 
committed to him the whole management of public afiairs» Michul 
and foon after declared him his partner in the empire. Ba- ^f^^'^^' 
filius was born in Macedon, but an Armenian by extrad, p!^!!!^hl 
and, according to Cedrenus, defcended from the royal fa- tk$ emfin. 
mily of the ArTacidae ; but others affirm, he was bom of 
mean and obfcure parents. At the fackine of Adrianople 
by Crumus king of the Bulgarians, being then a child, he 
was carried inta captivity with his parents, but fet at li« 
berty upon the conclufion of the peace. As he was tall in 
ftature, of a comely afpe&» and well*(haped, Theophilizest 
a nobleman of great diftin&ion, took him into his family^ / 
and appointed him his protoflator, that isi his gentleman 
of the horfe. Having broke an unruly horfe belonging to 
the emperor, he was, by the intereft of Bardas, taken into 
Michael's fervice, and raifed to the poft of mafter of the 
horfe ; which giving him an opportunity of copverfing often 
with the prince, he gained, by degrees, a great afcendant 
over him, and was advanced to the high office of great 
chamberlain. Bardas, jealous of the credit he was in with 
the emperor, and looking upon him no longer as his crea« 
ture but his rival, refolved on his de0;ru£lion* 

But Bafilius, apprifed of 4ii9-defign, andcipated him, as 
we have related. Bafilius. being upon the death of Bardas 
advanced to the imperial dignity, did all that lay in his 
power to redrefs the many abufes that had crept into the 
ftate, and to reclaim Michael from his vicious courfes; but 
the diiTolute prince was fo far froni following his whole* 
fome counieU, that he cefolyed fq rid bimfelf of fo trouble- 

s Joaj}n,»Curopfdat. C^drco. Zon^r ia Mich. 

F 4 {ove^ 



7t 

Yr. of PL 

A.D. 5iS, 
U.C, 1599. 

Mifhaei 



B^uf. 



Jli bridkf 
the powir 
ofths Mar 
nUhges. 



The C^^UmtkH^poi^M H^wry^ 

feme ft teller } a refoltttkNi uriiich haftcnod 1ii» oiom rdm z 
for Bafiliui, finding he oould by no other Ineans fare \am,0 
felf but by deftroyiRg bis coUeague^ entered one night his 
roomi white fie was drunk and afleep ; and, with the aOUU 
%nce of fome others, privy to Ur defign, firfl: cut off inth 
his hands as he held them up, and then difpatched faim 
with many wounds, after he had reigned fourceen years 
with his mother, and five yeara three oiontiis alone ^ 

BafiliuSf now fole mafter of the empire, governed with 
great juftice and moderation, preferring fucfa only as were 
perfons of known ptobity, and allowing all his fubje&s free 
accefstohim; a condudl which greatly endeared him to 
his people, who looked upon him rather as their father than 
their prince. However, in the btgtnning of his reign a 
eonfpiracy was formed againft him by George a»d Symba^ 
tius, twQ patricians; but it being feafonaUy dxfoovered, 
they were, deprived of fight, and their accomplices baniih* 
ed. To obviate any future attempts of the fame nature, la 
the fecond year of his reign he raifcd his eldeft fan Qcm* 
ilantine to the imperial dignity ; and, in the third, he 
created Leo and Alexander, hia fecond and t^d fous^ 
Caefars. As for his fourth fen> by name Stephen, he 
caufed him to take orders, with a defign to raiie hnn to 
the patriarchal fee. His four daughters took theTeligtona 
habit in the monaftery of St. Euphemia, where they led 
exemplary lives*. Having thus fettled his domeftic afiairs^ 
he refolved to make war upon the Maniohees. We hav^ 
obfecved, that in the late reign one Carbeas, a Jrioiijcfae^ 
^ed, widi five th<^ufand of mt fame ft£t;, to the Sargcens, 
with a defign to revenge the death of his father, who had 
be^q crucified on account of his opinion* Great aumbers 
of the perfecuted Manichees floc^ifig to him for ihelter, he 
made frequent inroads 'into the Roman territories from 
three ftrong places in Armenia, Arganum» Armera, and 
Tepfafica, which had been yielded to them by theSaractmst 
Againft thefe Manichees Bafilius marched m perfim, lai4 
W^fte their country, took or killed their beft commanders, 
and returned with an immenfe booty to Conftantinopie ; 
which city he entered in triumph- Next year the Mani- 
(^hees, refolving to revi^nge the lofles they had fuftained, 
btoke iinexpe£kedly into the empire, under the comxnand 
of Chryfochir } but being met by the imperial troops, they 
were almofl to a mari cut off, with their leader, wfaofe 
head was fent to Conftantinopie. By this decifive adlton 
their flr^ngtb was fp broken, ^at they were never zfy^x^ 



8 Ci^rppalat. ?onar* Cedren* jb!d. 



wards 



tb€ Q^^hmimpi^Hm Nijbfy. 73 



«raids in a oonditien of molefting the empire, EiicoBrt{;ed HUfrceefi 
hf Us focoefs agaioft the Mankhees, he entered Syriaf at- mgmnfi thg 
tended by his eldeft fon Conftantine, cteeovetcd feveral for- Saracms. 
trcCes from die Saraoens, and todk an incredible number 
of prifoners- On his return he made hunfelf mafter of 
Caefarea^ the metropolis of Cappadocia» and of feveral 
other dtiesy which he lei^elled wkh the ground* The pri- 
foners he took in this expedition were h> nnmerous^ that 
not being able to fpare fubBicient Ibldiers to gnard them, he 
commanded many of them to be put to the fwOrd $ an 
executicm which ftruek fuch terror into the Saracens, that 
fiune of their governors not only fubmitted, but joined the 
emperor againft their own nation. The African Saracens, 
and tfaofe of Crete, attea^^ing to invade the empire, were 
likewife defeated with great laughter, and the fleet of the 
former was utterly deftroyed by Nasar the Roman admiral. 
Thefe extraordinary advantages were, in fome degree, Syracmfi 
counterbalanced by the lofs ii Syracufe, which the Sara- takiu mmd 
cens of Carthage took and deftroyed. Adrian, a patrician, Mfi^^ 
who had been fent to relieve it, arriving too late, the em- 
peror, upon his return to Conftantinople, caufed him to 
be dragged from the great church where he had taken 
fanAuary, and fent into exile '• Ba&lius, at fuch times as 
he was not engaged in wars, bufied himfelf in building and 
repairing churches, of which Cedrenus mentions a great 
number. His eldeft fon Conftantine being dead, he raifed 
his fecond fon Leo to the imperial dignity, who being of- 
fended at the great fway which Theodorus Santabarepus, 
by profefiion a monk, but commonly reputed a magician, 
bore at court, endeavoured to remove him from the empe- 
ror's prefence. The jealous monk, apprifed of his intent, ^ht tr$m^ 
refoived to deftroy him. With this view, pretending to '^'^ •/* 
have private intelligence of a confpiracy againft fiafilius, ^^ 
which was to be put in execution while he was hunting, he 
firft perfuaded the young prince privately to arm hinifeif 
and fome of his attendants, that he might be ready to opt- 
pofe any attempt upon the life of his father; and then ha^* 
ftening to the emperor, told him in great conftematiosit 
that his fon deigned to murder him ; that his defign was to 
be put in execution the firft time be went to hunt ; and 
that» if he caufed him to be fearched, he would find him 
armed aeoordingly. The emperor, liftening to the wicked 
and maHcious infinnattons or the monk, ordered his fon to 
be fearched ; 9nd a dageer being found under his garments, Uo mfn^ 
COmmi<acd him to dole prifbn, in an apartment of the fimi^ 

• CuropsMt tMren4 Zpnar. ibid« 

palace, 



^4 f^^ Cof^MtmpoUtm Hijkry. 

palace^ vrhere \n% tyt$ would faafe been pot out at tbe in* 
ftigation of the monK, had not the patriarch and the fenace 
interpofed in bis behalf. However, he was long kept nn- 
mMJri' der clofe confinement ; but at length releafed, at the ear« 
ii^id> neft and repeated intreaties of the fenate, and refiored to 
his former dignity. Curopalates tells us, that the emperor 
-having forbidden the fenate to mention to him the young 
prince's name, or make any farther application in his fa- 
vour, while he was one day entertaining feveral of the no- 
bility, a parrot, which hung up in a cage in the room, in 
imitation of fome who ufed to lament the unfortunate 
prince's condition, cried out all on a fudden, '* Alas, un- 
happy Leo I'' His friendsi laying hold of that opportunity^ 
as if the bird reproached thelm with their negle^, notwith- 
'ftanding the emperor's prohibition, renewed their former 
applications $ to which Bafilius at length yielded ^ He 
BaJUms died, not long after this tranfai^ion, having reigned eighteen 
diis» years, ten months, and feven days. 

Vr. of Fl. < ^^ ^^^ ^^^ -^^> whom he appointed his fuccefibr, he left^ 

3»i7. with the empire, fome excellent maxims or rules of govem- 

A. D. 869. ment, comprifed in fixty-fix chapters, the initial letters of 

^•^•'^'7* . which form the following fcntence ; *• Bafilius, emperor of 

Hjtnfiruc' ^^^ Romans in Chrift, to Leo his dear fon and colleague in 

ftenstithis "^^ empire." The maxims contained in this performance 

/m. are worthy of a great prince and a Chriftian philofopher* 

Bafilius made a new coUetlion of the laws, known by the 

name of Bafilicae, fignifying, royal or imperial laws ; for 

they did not take their name, as fome have imagined, from 

the emperor Bafilius, by whofe orders they were compiled. 

They wete written in the Greek tongue, the Latin, in 

which the laws of Juftinian were compiled, being at this 

time fcarce underftood- in the eaftern empire. Bafilius is, 

by all the ancierit writers, defervedly ranked among the 

bed emperors. 

li$. Bafilius was fucceeded by his fon Leo, whom he had 

taken for his partner in the empire, upon the death of his 

eldeft fon Conftantine. The hew prince was a great lover 

of learning, and fo well verfed in all the branches of litera*- 

ture, that he defervedly acquired the furname of Fhilofo- 

phus. His firft care was, to puniih Theodorus Santabarenus 

the monk, whom he ordered to be wbipt in an ignominious 

manner, and then banifhed him to Athens, where his eyes 

were put out. Photius, patriarch of Conftantino]4e, had 

' lisToured Theodorus, and confpired with him to raife a kini^ 

maa of his own^ ta the throne ; he had befides raifed great 

.«. .. .t4Cucopalat».itf Anaft.' 

difturb- 



« 

The CimfiantimpoUtMH^ory. 75 

difturbances in the chorch : for which crimes he was, by 

I^eo's orders, depofed, and baniflied into Armenia, Stephen, 

the emperor's brother* being raifed to the patriarchal fee in 

his room. To ihew his gratitude to the emperor Michael, 

who had ^rft preferred his father, and had been murdered by Hi honoun 

him, he caufed his body to be conveyed with extraordinary '^/J^fT^ 

pomp from the monaftery of Chryfopolis, where it had been v *^***^ 

interred, to the church of the Apoftles in Conftantinople, 

and there depofited in a (lately monument of marble* 

In the year 877, the eighth of Leo's reign, a war broke 
out between the Romans and Bulgarians, on the following 
occafion : a great trade had been long carried on between 
the two nations, and the public mart was kept at Conftan- 
tinople, whence it was, at the requeft of fome merchants, 
removed to Theflalonica. There the colle£tors of the cuf« 
toms oppreffing, with new and unlawful impofitions, the 
.Bulgarian merchants, Simeon their king, having firft applied 
in vain to^ the emperor for redrefs, refolved to do bimfelf 
juftice* Accordingly, entering the Roman territories, at 
the head of a powerful army, he ravaged and laid wafte 
the country as far as Macedon, where he was met by the 
Roman army, under the command of Procopius Crenites, nu army 
and Curticius, who were both cut off, with moft of their difeated hy 
army, in the engagement that enfued. Simeon, having '4' ^*4«- 
^ken in the purfuit a great number of prifoners, caufed ^*^^^* 
their nofes to be cut, and fent them back, thus deformed, 
to Conftantinople. The emperor incenfed at this outrage, 
prevailed upon the Ungri or Hungarians, whom our au- 
thor ftyles Turks, to invade the country of the Bulgarians 
on one fide, while he entered it on the other, 

Againft the Hungarians Simeon marched in perfon ; but 
was by them utterly defeated, the flower of his army being 
cut off, and himfelf with difficulty efcaping to a city named 
Doroftolum, whence he fent ambaffadors to Leo, fuing for 
peace; which was readily granted him, upon very ho- ^hatrta* 
nourable terms. The emperor's forces were no iooner 'ff^^ 
withdrawn than Simeon fell unexpe£tedly upon the Hun- 
garians ; and having put them to flight, ravaged their coun- 
try. Leo, provoked at this breach of the treaty, and more 
at his new and unreafonable demands, refolved to fall upon 
him with the whole ftrength of the empire, and utterly 
deftroy him* A powerful army was according raifed, and 
fent into Bulgaria, under the conduct of Catacalon and 
Theodofius : but Simeon, who carefully watched their mo- 
tions, falling unexpedledly upon them, cut moft of them 
in pieces, with Theodofius, and a great number of officers 
of diftindlion ; a difafter which obliged the emperor to 

lubmit 



iht Bui- 
gariaui. 



n/i. 



jt The C6iiftMiiH^litan Hiftary. 

fabmit to the beft temis he eould obtain "• While Leo was 
engaged in thefe wars abroad, feveral confptnicies were 
formed againft him at home $ whkh, however, were fesu^ 
fonably difcovereU, and the confpirators fent into exile, the 
eQrq>eror bqing avtrfe to bloodshed* The emprela Theo"- 
phanoy or, as others call her, Theophanta, being, dead, the 
mtmpi- emperor married- one Zoe, the moft beautiful woman of her 
rorwunrria age, whom he had kept as his concubine in his wife's life- 
aJtMdt time, and caufed her to be crowned with the ufnal folem^ 
t^tk «"y> conferring at the fame time on her father, by name 
^mfi. Zf^ntz^f the title of Father of the Emperor. Zoe did not 
long enjoy her new dignity, and, upon her death, Leo 
married to his third wife, a lady of extraordinary beauty, 
named Eudocia ; init (he dying in child-bed, together with 
the infant, Leo, who had yet no iffue male to fucceed htm, 
married to his fourth wife another Zoe, who brought him 
a fon, called Conftantine (C). 
^tt attempt Some time before his fourth marriage^, as he was going 
m^H his iju Whitfunday in a folemn proceffion to the church of St* 
Mocius; as was cuftomary on that day, a perfon of a mean 
condition, watching that opportunity, juft as he entered 
the church, gave him fuch a blow on the head with a club, 
that he fell to the ground, and thofe about him believed 
him dead ; and he would certainly have been killed upon the 
fpot, had not the violence of the Uow been broken by a 
chandelier, which hung in the way. Alexander, the em- 
peror's brother, was thought to have been privy to this at- 

« Curopalat* in Leon. Zonar. Ctdren% ibid. 

(C) This fourth marriage, which occafioned a fchifm in the 

which was then held unlawful, church. Though Euthymius 

gave rife to great diflurbances reftored the emperor to the 

and diviiions in the church of communion of the faithful, yet 

Conftandnople ; for Nlcolaus he refolutely oppofed him, 

My(licu8, tben patriarch, not when, .by the advice .of the fe- 

only declared againfl the mar- nate, he was about to publifh 

rlage, but excommunicated the an edid, declaring it lawful to 

emperor; who after having ear- many the fourth time. Leo 

neiily begged, but in vam, to had formerly publiihed an edi6t, 

be reftored to the communion fubjeding thofe who married 

of the church, confined the thrice, to th^ penalties which 

patriarch to a monaftery, and had been decreed againft them 

placed one Euthymius Syncel- by fome ancient councils, and 

lus in his room. Some of the the clergy would not fuffer him 

clergy adhered to Nicolaus, and to revoke that edi£t (i). 
others to Euthymius ; adivifion 

(0 Vide Conft Porphyrogen. in Praeamb^ ad Edi^ Unionit. 

' tempt ; 



The CofsfiantinepoUtM SS/hr^. 77 

tonpt; ^st no proof could be aUcged againft htm; tW: 
traitor, though tqctured in amoft crudaianner* obftinately 
refufing to difcovcr.bis accomplices* As tbcf could extort, 
nothing from him, he was burnt alive in the circus, after 
his baiuis and feet had been cut off v. In* the following year 
8.85, the fixteenth of Leo's reii^n, the Saraceiis, having 
equipped a powerful fleet, took Taurominium in Sicily, re* Tminrni- 
duced the ifland of Iicmnos> and ravaging, without con* nmm and 
trol, the coafts of Aila, threw the impeiial city into great ^^4^^ 
confternation. In the end of the fummcr they laid fiegc to ^l^^l^J^ 
Thefialonica, which they took, and wouU have deflroyed^ racemi 
had it not been redeemed with a large fum by Simeon, mie 
cf the emperor's fecretaries, who was on that account 
raifed to the rank, of a patrician* lico,. luiable to dppofe 
the Saracens at fea, raifed a powerful army, which he fent 
into the Eaft, under .thexondu(£l of Euftatius Argyrus, and 
Andronicus I3ucas, in ordei: to attack them by land ; a fcr* nvho an 
vice which they perlbrmed with great fiicceljSy having gain- ^rf*^fd by 
ed fcveral vi£lories. Ho^ircver, in the year following, they ^^^f^P*' 
invadedf vrith a numerous. army* the Roman territories ( )^|^^ ^ *^* 
a circumftance which obliged the .erhperor to difpatch Hi- 
merius and AndconicKS Ducas aglunft them. They wece 
both generals of great courage, experience, and cohdu£t ; 
but a fatal mifunderftanding between them, which waa ow* 
ing to the malicious intrigues of one Samonas, put a ite|i 
tx> the pcogrefs of their arms. Samonas, a Saracen b^^ 
birth, and formerly chamberlain to the emperor, having 
difcovered a confpiracyi had been, on that account, ad-^ 
vanced to the fifft employments in the ftate. Having ac* 
<}aired imtiienfe wealth, he attempted to efcape into his own 
country with his treasures ; but was flopped upon die roady 
and A-ought back to Conftantinople.by .Conft^mtine Ducas, 
the fon of Andronicus* The emperor, provoked at his bet- 
ing thus abandoned, kept him for feme time under. dofe 
confinement; but in the end reftored him to his former 
rank and honours* 

As Samonas bore an irreconcileable hatred to A^drpni- 
Ctt8» on account of his fon Conftaatine» by whom he had 
been intercepted on his way home, he prevailed upon one 
of that general's intimate friends, widi a large fum^ to 
warn him by letter not to join Himeriua, who, he faid, had 
orders from the emperor to put out his eyes as iboa a^ he 
had him in his power. Andronicufi, giving credit to thia 
letter, refufed to; join Himerius, who neverthelefs engaged 
die Saracens, and gave them a total overthrow. Andhonin 



^ Leo Grammat lib. itL ^iv« 



i • «« 

CU8. 



fS Tie ti(mfiantih(p>Utan Hifiory* 

cii8i dretding the emperbys indignation, feized a c^le near - 
Itonium^ csJled Cabalaj with a deCgn to revoh; which' 
Samonas no foonier underftood tbani making ufe of all hb 
authority at court, be prevailed upon the emperor to de- 
clare Andronicus a traitor, and to difpatch a ftrong army 
againft him, under the command of Iberitzas Gregoras^r 
JlH4ir9mcns Andronicus, defpairing of pardon, fled to the Saracens, by 
Dmems dif- whom he was received with the greateft demonftrations of • 
^^^^ff*J^l^ kinilnefs and efteem. Leo, greatly concerned for the lofs 
^Mei»s* ** ^ ^° brave a commander, who Had hitherto ferved him 
with much honour and integrity, and dreading him as an 
enemy, refelved to perfuade him, if poiBblej to return^ 
With this view be releafed a Saracen captive, on condidon; 
he delivered to Andronicus a letter, wherein the emperor 
invited him home, promifed to reftore him to his former 
honours, and gave him repeated affurances of his friend- 
fliip and efteem ; but the captive, bribed by Samonas, in* 
ftead of conveying the letter to Androficus» delivered it to' 
the kalif, who immediately caufed the unfortunate Andro- 
nicus, with his fon Conftantinc, and the reft who had at* 
tended him in his flight, to be throwvi into prifon, where 
they were treated with the utmoft cruelty. 

Andronicus foon periihed under this hardfhips he endur- 
ed; feveral others purchafed tfieir liberty, by renouncing. 
their religion ; but Conftantine, the fon pi Andronicus,^ 
made his efcape, with a fmall number of attendants* and 
though purfued, fometimes by fighting, and fometimes by: 
cafting gold in the way, in ordex to amufe his purfuers, got 
fafe to Conftantinople, where he was kindly received by the 
emperof, and feafted, upon his arrival, in the golden room. 
We are told, that as he was departing, when the banquet 
was over, the emperor, calling him b^ck, warned hi A not 
to fuflier himfelf to be fo far mifled, by the omen of his 
name, as to afpire at the empire ; adding, that he had been? 
aflured by thofe who could foretel things of that nature, 
that his own fon Conftantine was deftined by Heaven to the 
empire ; and that,, if Ducas ever attempted the imperial 
dignity, his head would be inevitably cut aS^ and* brought 
through the gate of that very place where he was now treat- 
ed with fe much honour and magnificence. The event 
confirmed the truth of this prediftion. • 
Yr. of F). ^ Abo^t this time Samonas, the emperor^ chief favourite, 
323^. who bad hitherto governed with an dbtblute fway, was at 
Ar D. 887. length difgraced on the following oa:afion : he had recom'* 
U.C 1635. niended a youth, named. Conftantine, by birth a Papbla- 
« »tf gonian, to wait on the emprefs, who being much pleafed 
di/gracid. ^i^^ ^^^ addrefs, afid Othefr good qualities, ufed all her in- 
. - tereft 



The ConfianfiftdpoUtm' I^oty: fy 

tertft t6 prefer him* SamoriaS) apprehending he might iar 
lime ht mpplaoted by this new favourite, did all that lays 
in hi^ power to remove him ; but finding all his eflSorts in«% 
efiefhial, he arrogantly accufed the emprefs of too much 
faroiUarity with him, and even had the boldnefs to jpublifli 
a libel againft the emperor himfelf, who finding him to be 
the author of it, confined him to a monaftery, and appoint- 
ed his rival, Conftantine, great chamberlain in his room V 
In the twenty^fixth and laft year of his reign, the Saracens^ TkgRotMm 
under the condufb of Damianus, a Tyrian, and Leo ofiJ^^^^fi^^ 
Tripolis^ committing dr^dful ravages on the coafts, and in ^^ '*' 
the iflands of the ^eaqan fea, Himerius was fent with a . '''^^'^ 
powerful fleet againft them ; but in* a fea-fight near the 
ifland of Samos, the Roman navy was utterly defeatedi Hi- 
merius bimfeif having, with much difiiculty, efcaped to 
Mitylene. The emperor did not long outlive this calamity ; 
but died of the Qolic.on the eleventh of May of the pre- Yr.of Fl. 
fent year, after having reigoed^twi^nty-five years, and three 3«4t. 
months. He left behind him ofily on^ ion^ named Conftan- , ^-^' |95« 
tine I. but as he wasf fcari^e five years old, he bequeathed '^^' 

the empire to his brother Alexander, after having earneftly £^^ ^^^ 
iittreated himi to leave it at.his death to his fon Conftantine^ 
whom be recommended t^ jsis care Tf. 

. hco is confidered by^all writers as a prince of great pru- Hts<hm' 
dence, and uncommon penetration. He is highly extolled r^^^r «iMf 
by the ecclefiaftic writers, on account of his zeal for the '^•''*'* 
purity of the Catholic faith, and by them compared to the 
mod zealous and vigilant among their bifhops; . As he was 
a man of great learjiing, ;he left feveral worlds behind him»* 
namely, a letter to Omarus, king of the Saracens, con*^. 
cerning the myfteries and truth of the Chrriftian religion« 
and the herefies and blafphemies of the Saracens ; a book 
of military difcipline,* which has been tranllatpd into I*atin ; 
another on hunting ,; feveral thoolpgical and hiitorical 
trad«^ ftiU to be foeia, though ftrangely maimed and xpr- 
rupted, in the Vatican library -, a circular letter, which, in 
imitation of the biOiops, he wrote to all bis fubjefis, en- 
couraging them, to the pra£lice of every Chriilian virtue ; 
bat as he applied himfelf , above all to the (tudy of the law* 
ht new-modelled t<be. Roman jurifprudence. His father 
BafiliuB had, with, the, affiftance of his two fons, Conftan- 
tine iind Leo, publiflied an epitome of Juftinian's code, 
which he called Frocheiron. This work, which. confifted 
of f»txy titles, is ftill to be found among the manufcripts 

. 5 Corotfialat. in liCon. Zonar* Cedren* Leo Grammat. ibid, 
y Conft. ManaiL Glycat, ibid, 

io 



m the Viati<;an library. It is hj fome arfcribecl Us Bafl)ki#r 
Conftantine, and Leo ; by others bxAj to Leo and Coniteui-' 
tine ; and by feme to Leo alone : whence CnjaeiiB^ and 
other cmlians, conclude it to have been revifed br Leo, axi^ 
brought into a better form. Leo likewife publUh^^ ^hwxt 
the year 886, hid Bafiiicte, divided into fizty books, and fix 
volumes. In this great work, the emperor followed the 
order which Juilinian had obfervied in his laws ; for it was 
compiled from his code, edids, novelise, and from the con* 
ftitutions of the fticceeding emperors down to Bafilius, 
whatever was fiiperilaous, or had been abrogated by the 
cnftom of after-times, being retrenched. The Bafitics were 
no fooner publifhed, than the booki of Juftinian were kid 
afide, both in the fcho<tfs and cdurts of joftiee. Leo dying, 
his fori Conftantine revifed andcorre£ked the Bafilicse, which 
bad been puUilhed by bis father, and ordered them, thus 
correfted, to be made ufe of both at the bar and in the 
fchools. The Bafilicae of Leo were called Priores, and thole 
of Conftantine, Pofleriores i but the latter alone were iiK 
force, and continued to be the foundaition of the Grecic 
jarifpradence to the end of the empire ». • 

AUxaniir Leo being dead, his brother Alexander was, by the i!tnate 
adtbauch-^ and people, acknowleged emperor j but be, in the verybe* 
tdprUu* ginning of his reign, betrayed fuch cruelty^' avarice, and de- 
bauchery, as rendered him odious to atl his (ubjefls^ Tbofe 
who feemed to difcountenance him in his lewd and difiblute 
courfes, he baniffaed under various pretences, placing perfons 
of infamous chara£kers in their room, and fuflfering htmfelf 
to be entirely governed by debauchees and proftitutes. He 
was fo pleafed with Bafilitzas, a perfon of a mean descent, 
but of a moft dHTolut^e life, and his infeparable companion 
in the moft abominable extravagancies, that he refolved to 
lettle the empire on him, and, by caftrating his nephew Con- 
ftantine, to deprive the young prince of all hopes of fuccef- 
fiotl : but he w^s diverted from fuch an unpopular attempt, 
fay fome of the late emperor*s friends, who reprefented, thar 
the child was of a weak and fickly conftitution, and would, 
in all likelihood, be foon removed by a natural death. In the 
mean time, hebaniflied the emprefs Zoe from the court, ftt£» 
fering none to continue there iMit fuch as were ilaves to his 
fenfual pleafures, and fubfervient to his brntifli appetites. 
lUfro* Simeon, prince of the Bulgarians, no fooner heard of his 
n/okesihi acceffion to the empire thian he difpatched ambaiTadors to 
Buiga^ him to renew the treaties of peace and firiendfhip conctoded 



nans. 



« Struv. Hift*. Jor. Grasc, cap. 4« Cujsc. lib. vi. Obferv. cap. ro« 
Doviat. Uift. Jur. Civil, p. 47. 

by 



The Conftantinopolitan Hiftofy. 81 

by former emperors between the two nations ; but Alc^ari^ 
der, inftead of cultivating the fricndfliip of that warlike and 
powerful nation, difmiffed their ambaHadors in aii igndmi-' \ . \ 
nious manner. Simeon, juftly provoked at this aiFront, in^ 
▼aded^ with a formidable army, the Roman territories, dd-* 
ftroying all with fire and fword. Alexander, iilftead of offer*- 
ing to oppofe him, purfued, without interruption, his dif» 
fdlute courfes^ till death, haftened by his intemperance, de* 
livered the world from fo pernicious a monfter. As he was 
one day ufing violent exercife, after having eaten and dfank 
to a great excefs, fome of the veflels breaking, he continued He Sit. 
to bleed inwardly till he died. 

Before his death, which happened after he had reigtred Yr. of Fl. 
about a year and a month, he declared Conftantine his fuc- tL^^^o 
Geflbr; but appointed him for his governors, as he was yet \i\c!t$lL 
a child, fuch perfons as Had been moft fubfefvient to him in - - 

bis infamous pleafures, and 'were, on that account, defpifed Confiataim 
and abhorred by all men of honour and integrity. Their lAi- ^^^^» 
popular charafters encouraged Conftantine Ducas, the fon 
of Andronicus, of whom w^ have fpoken above, to attempt 
the fov^reignty, notwithftanding the warning given him by 
the late emperor ; but as he endeavoured to force the impe- 
rial palace, after he had been proclaii^ed emperor by his 
friends in the circus, he was feized by the guards, who im* 
mediately cut off his head, arid carried it to the emperor. 
With him fell the hopes of his party, mod of his accomplices, 
who were men of great power ^nd authority in the city, being ^ 

dilcoTered, and puni(hed either with death or banifiiment. 
Daring thefe domeftic broils, Simeon king of the Bulgarians, ng Bulga* 
having laid wafte Thrace, had advanced to the gates of Con- rUanbreak^ 
ftantinople, which city he had great hopes of reducing in a ^*'^^' 
Ihort time ; but the unexpeded and vigorous oppofition he ^*^^* 
met with from the inhabitants, obliged him, after feveral un- 
fuccefsful attempts, to abandon the enterprize, and retire 
to Hebdomon, whence he fent ambafladors to the young 
prince's governors, with overtures for a treaty; which were 
received with great joy. While the negotiations were carry- 
ing on, Simeon was admitted to dine with the emperor in 
the palace of Blachernae, whence he returned home, loaded 
with rich prefents. 

The regents, difagreeing amongft themfelves, at the ear- 
ned tequeftof the people of Conftantinople, and of the 
young prince himfelf, recalled to court the emprefs Zoej 
who, hairing foOil got all the power into her own hands, re-* 
moved from the emperor's prefence the favourites of Alex- 
ander, and put others into dieir room, who were better qua- 

VouXV. G lified 






rians im- 
nfodi ihi 
empire. 



J$aUd» 



tio dif' 
gracid^ 
andde- 
prinjed of 
hisfighty 



^he ConJlaHtinqpoUtan Hj/lorys 

lified ibr that high truft *. Zoe had Ccarce taken uf ea her the 
adminiftration when the Bulgarians broke into the empire 
on one fide,, and the Saracens on the other. Thefofmer* 
after having laid wafte Thrace, fat down before AdrisMiojde, 
which was betrayed to them by Pancratucufi, an Asine&ian^ 
whom Simeon had bribed with rich prefents* The Sara- 
cens, under the conduA of Damianus, kalif of Tyre, hav- 
ing equipped a powerful fleet, committed great devaftations 
on the coafts. Zoe, thus attacked by two powerful eoie- 
mies at once, refolved, purfuant to the adrvice &£ the fenate^ 
to make peace upon any terms with the Saracens, and em«« 
ploy the whole ftrength of the empire againft the Bulga« 
rians. Accordingly a treaty was happily concluded with the 
former, and an army fent againft the latter, under, the con- 
duit of Leo Phoeas, who, having muftered his numerous 
forces in the fpacious plain of Diabafis, led them ftrait againft 
the enemy, who were encamped at a fmall diftance. 

Before the engagement, Conftantine, the chief chaplain of 
the palace, or, as he was (tyled, protopapa, expofing the wood 
of the holy crofs^ to the view of the whole army, commanded 
them to kz^eel down, and fw^ax that they would fight to the 
laft. After this cerenu>ny, both armies engaged with great 
fury ; but the Romans prevailing, after a moft obftinate dif<« 
pute, the Bulgarians fled in the utmoft confufion^ The vic- 
tory, however, was unluckily fnatched out of their hands, by 
the following accident: Leo, the Roman general, alighting 
at a. fountain to quench his drought during the purfuit, hia 
horfe broke loo&« while he (looped down to drink. Thefol«> 
diers, who knew the horfe, feeing him without a rider, con- 
cluded from thence, that their general was flain, and giving 
over the purfuit, began to retire in a diforderly manner ; a 
cijrcumftance which Simeon perceiving, rallied his men, and 
facing about, iell tinexpefbedly upon the Romans, put them 
to flight,, and purfued theipi with much flaughter, not only 
great numbers of the common foldiers being flain in that 
conf ufion, but many oflEcers of diftinflion. To this unhappy 
midake fonie afcrlbe the dreadful overthrow which the Ro- 
mans received on this occafioQ i but others relate the mat- 
ter in a quite different manner. In the mean time the two 
rivals, Leo and Romanus, returning to court, began to plot,. 
not only againft the emperor, but againft each other ; for 
they had both nothing lefs in view than the fovereigntyr 
but t^e faction of Rom^nuS' prevailing at lengitb over that 
of Leo, the latter was declaced a traitor, i Beii^ feieed in- 

a Ccdren* Zonap« Lea Gcammat ^-Curopolat* inOonftant. 

acaffle 



fhi ConfiokthopoUtan Hifioty, ^3 

a iaftlc liarted Atcas, wHthcr he had fled for Ihelter, he 
^as, by the emperor's orders, deprived of his fight^ and, hj 
that Means, rendered incapable of any farther attempts* 

Romahus, having thus gpt rid of Leo, and driven ail hU 
p'artifans from tht emperor*8 prefence, perfuaded the young 
|)riih:e to marry his daughter, and to appoint his fon Chrif 
topher cbmihander in chief of tlie allies, which poft was. at 
that timd, one of the grea^eft dignities^in the empire. Hav-* Zotnn* 
ing in this nianner engroffed to hinifclf the whole power, he fi»*^*^ ^ 
dro^e the emprefs Zoc from the palace, and confined her to ^^^fi^* 
tbemonaftery of St. Eupliemia. Soon after her departure, K^nutkus 
Be caufed himfelf to be firft declared Caefar, and afterwards ^•'""^'^ 
to b€ (blemnly crowned emperor by the patriarch, the young '•/'''*''• 
prince rather (ilently permitting, than approving of thefe e2> 
traordihary proceedings. Next year fifomanus caufed his two 
fons, Stephen and Chrilfopher, to be crowned in the great 
thiircb, refcrving the other, by name Theophylaflus, for 
the patriarx:hal dignity; ahd, with the utitioft arrogance, he 
ordered himfelf to be named before Conffantine, in all pub- 
lic edicts and monuments. Several projefts were formed by 
th6 friends of young Cohifantiiie, to deliver bim from the 
contr6lx or rather captivity, in which be lived ; but they 
weri all difcovered, before they were ripe for execution, and 
the authors punifhed with the utmoft feverity. Simeon, king 
of the Bulgarians, taking advantage of theie intedine broils^ 
broke andw into the Roman territories; and having defeated, 
with great flaughter, the iipperial troops difpatched againft 
him, advanced, without oppofition, to the gates of Conftan- 
tinople; but defpairing of being ever able to reduce that me* 
tropc^s, he defired an intervievv with the emperor Roman us j Vr. of FL 
which being readily granted, a peace enfued between the two S*5'* 
nations, llomanus having, in a pathetic fpeech, put the Bui- uc 6^'* 
garian in mind of the account he was to give one day to the ' ' ^'* 
Eternal Judge of the Chriftian blood he had already {hed. At fgaa with 
the fame time the Saracens, who had long infefted the coafts the Bulga* 
and the iflands, being furprifed by John Radenus, the Roh '"'«"• 
man admiral, in the harbour of Lemnos, were cut offalmoft 
to a man, and their whole fleet deftroyed. Not long after^ 
Simeon king of the Bulgarians died, and was fucceeded by 
his fon Peter, who, breaking into the Roman dominions^: 
deftroyed all with fire and fword, without any regard to the 
treaty lately concluded between the emperor and his father. 

When he heard Komahus was marching againft him, at 
the head* of a powerful army, he difpatched a monk, with 
propdf^ls for a neace, Which he deTired might be ftrength- 
tned atid cDtinrmed by a marriaffe. This overture being 
well- received by Romanus, th^ Kilgarian prince^ after fe« 

G % veral 



84 5R?^ ConftantinopoUtan Hiftory. 

7hi king vcTdl negotiations, repaired to Conftantinople, where be was 

of the BtU' fplendidfy entertained by Romanus in the palace of Blacher- 

garians j^^^ ^nd, with great folemnity, married by Stephen the pa- 

^rand' triarch, to Mary the daughter of Chriftopher, thcemperor'5 

daughter of fo"* The nuptial folemnities were fcarce over, when the 

Romanus* Saracens in Syria invaded the Roman territories; but John 

Curcuasi the imperial general in thofe parts, drove them 

back with great lofs; and having taken the city of Melitena, 

reduced the adjoining country to the form of a province. 

Mitena The following winter proved very fevere ; and the long froft, 

^i^R^^^^ faid to have lafted a hundred and twenty days, was tollow'- 

^^g^^^' ed by a dreadful plague, which fwept off incredible numbers 

of people : earthquakes were felt in feveral provinces, and 

whole cities overturned. At Conftantinople a fire broke out, 

which confumed many ftately buildings : but Romanus was 

not fo much afFe£^ed with thefe public calamities, as with 

the death of his fon Chriftopher, who died on the fourteenth 

of Auguft of the prefent year 905 **. 

In the courfe of the following year, one Bafiliu^, a na- 
tive of Macedon, pretending that he was Conftantine Du- 
cas, who had been (Iain in the beginning of the prefent 
reign, drew crouds after him ; but being feized by an ofE*' 
^er in the army, he was brought to the emperor at Con- 
ftantinople, who, after having caufed one of his hands to be 
cut off, fet him at liberty. He continuing ftill to pafs him- 
felf upon the credulous multitude for the fon of Androni- 
cus, got together great numbers of malecontents, who hav- 
ing feized on a ftrong-hold, made from thence frequent in- 
curfiins into the neighbouring country, deftrpying alt with 
fire and'fword. Romanus having, with much difficulty, got 
' * him once more into his power, ordered him to be Durnt 

alive*^. In 915, the Roffl, who inhabited the European 
Sarmatia, and were known to the ancients by the names of 
Roxolani and Baftarnse, having equipped a numerous fleet, 
confifting, according to fome, of ten, according to others, 
of fifteen thoufand veflels, committed dreadful ravages on 
^he RdJJi the coafts of the empire : but Theophanes, the Roman ad- 
dtfeatedhy miral, failing 4inexpe£ledly upon them, deftroyed their 
the Ro' whole fleet ; and the two generals, Bardas and Curcuas, 
mans. purfuing thofe who had faved themfelves afhore, made fuch 
a havock of them, that very few returned home with the 
news of their misfortune **. All this while Conftantine, 
the lawful prince, lived without the leaft authority, having 
but the bare name of emperor. However, he carefully 

^'> Curppalat in Roman. Leo Grammat. in Rom. ^ Curo^ 

palat in Roman. Leo Gram mat. in Rom* ^ Zooar. Cedren, 

in Rom, Luitprand. lib. v. p. 384. 

watched 



I *. 4 



The ConJlantinopoUtan Htftory. 9g 

watched an opportunity of recovering his former power ; 
and, with this view, gained over fomc perfons in great 
credit and efteem with Romanus and his fo;is. Thefe be- 
ing apprifed, that to remove Romanus was the firft ftep 
towards the re-cftabfifliment of Conftantine, applied to Ste- 
phen, the ufurper's youngeft fon, and, by degrees, brought 
him to rebel againft his father, whom he feized on the fix- 
teenth of December of the prefent year 928, and confined 
to a monaftery in the illand Prota. Romanus being thus Yr. of FI. 
removed, Stephen caufed himfelf to be proclaimed emperor 3*7^- 
in his room, obliging his elder brother Conftantine, who ^'^- ^*^* 
had been raifed by his father to the imperial dignity, to ac- ' ' ^ * 
knowlege him for his partner in the fovereignty. This cir- Komanus 
cumftance gave rife to a mifunderftanding between the two depoftdby 
brothers, which proved fatal to both \ for Conftantine hav- fi'tsftm. 
ing invited them to an entertainment, as if he had been de- 
firous of bringing about an accommodation, caufed them 
both to be feized in the midft of their jollity, and to be im- Hisfotu 
mediatery conveyed away, Stephen to the iiland of Panor- ^'-^^ 
mus, and Conftantine to Terebintus,' where they were both ^n,^* 
ordained priefts. Stephen was afterwards removed to Pro- 
connefus, and from thence to Rhodes, then to Mitylene, 
and laftly to Leftjos, where he died, after having borne his 
misfortunes for many years with great conftancy and refo- 
lution. Conftantine having, two years after, killed one of 
his keepers, with a defign to make his efcape from the ifland 
of Samothrace, whither he had been removed, the refty 
tranfported with rage, flew him. As for Romanus, their 
father, he died in the beginning of the fourth year of his 
exile •• 

Conftantine, thus reftofed to his former power and au- Cwfimififit 
thority, amply rewarded all thofe who had been inftru- rtfioredf 
mental in his reftoration, preferring- them to the firft em- ^^^^^ 
ployments in the ftate. In order to prevent any future de- ^^ 
figns that might be formed againft him, he caufed his fon . 
Romanus to be crowned with the ufual folemnity. As for 
Romanus, the fon of Stephen, with Bafilius, the natural fon 
of Romanus the elder, and Michael, the fon of Chriftopher, 
they were made eunuchs, and compelled to enter into or- 
ders. In 929, the Saracens breaking into the empire with 
a powerful army, Bardas Phocas, and his two fdns, Nice- 
phorus and Leo, were difpatched with the flower of the 
Aoman forces againft them. Bardas was one of the beft 
officers of his age \ but being hated by the foldiery, on ac- 

•Curopalat* Cedren. Zonar. ibid. Luitprand. jib* v. cap. 9, 

I0| II, 

G 3 count 



^S T^e Conflantinopolitan Hifioiy^ 

count of his fordid avaricci he perfprmed nothing ^nfwer? • 
^tilc to the high charafter he oore ; and his me<i ^avii^g 
abandoned him in an engagement, he was dafigeroufly 
yonnded in the forehead, and with difficulty brought ojf 
siUvc by fome of his friends. His two fons gained Teveral 
iignal viftories pvcr the enemy, by whom, however, they 
were not more feared than beloved by thofe who fcrye^ 
under thenif Leo, having overthrown the Saracens in a 
pitched battle, took, among other prifoners, Apolafemus, a 
perfon of great diftinftion, 'and nearly related to Chabda- 
pus, the kalif J a circumftance which the emperor no fooner 
knew,, than he ordered the captive to be fent to Cpnftanti- 
nople, where the vain prince, after having led him in tri- 
uniphy trod, in an infulting manner, upon his neck. The 
talif* cxafperated by this indignity, ufed in a mod barba- 
rous manner Conftantine, the third fon of Bardas fhocas, 
yrhoin he h^d taken prifoner, in order to make him ahjure 
the Cliriflian religion ; but not being able to prevail, he 
^aufcd him to be poifpped. Phocas, to revenge his death, 
, put to the fword all the relations of the kalif who had the 
misfortune to fall into hi$ hands. On the other hand, the 
t:alif having raifed a numerous and formidable arn)y| 
parched J|;ainfl Phocas and ))i$ fons, carrying with biqi 
Nicet^s, a patrician, and feyeral other prifoners pf dif 
tin£^ion, with an intent to caufe them to be majQTacred ii| 
the (ight of the Roman army : butNicetas^ who wa$ a mat^ 
ofereat addrefs, haying in the mean time injfinuated himr 
{elf into his favour, was by hio) made privy to all his de- 

fij^ns, which he found means to impart to Phopas, whO| 
ying in ambulh for him in a narrow pafs, cut off his nu- 
merous ^ripy ?l|PQft to a ip^n^ the k^Hf hipi(e]f efcaping 
with ipijcl) difiiculty^ ^fter havmg put to' the fword all the 
Roman pri(oner§, except Nicetas. who, by bribing hif ' 
jceepers^ 1)^4 ipade hi$ efcape in the beginning of the en- 
pagenicnt. i 

After this vi£lory Phocas, invading the territories of th^ 
Saracens, took feveral ftrong places, and laid wafte whole 
provinces: but the Saracens, who had fettled in Crete^ 
pommittipg dreadful ravages on the coafts, the emperor havy 
^ng, with incredible e^jcpedition, fitted oijt a powerful fleet, 
^ifpatche^ it with a ftrong army on board againft the ifland 
pf Cfete, vvhcre they landed, without the Teaft oppofitio^ 
from the ^aracens, altogether unprovided againft to fuddeu 
ji defcent, ^nd would have eafily made themfelyes ma(ler$ 
pf the whole ifland, had they been commanded by an of- 
ficer of ?ny flciil of experience. The emperor having con-? 
fefired the chief command in this expedition upon one of 



The ConftMtim^iifan Hljhry. 1^ 

his diamberlainst named Conftatitiiie Oongylas^ vrlio bad Vr. of Ft. 
been brought vp in the courts and was confeqtiently an ^^f?^ 
ntter ftranger to the art of war, through his ignorance the i/.c/iJoi'. 
whok undertaking mifcarried ; for the Saraeens, finding. ' 
be neither took care to fortify himfelf by any works, nbr to ng Rp' 
fefad out fcouts to procure intelligence, concluded he was mmtsJf' 
«o warrior. Recovering from their confter nation, they fell '^^^^ " 
vpon hira unexpectedly,, put his army to iight with great ^^^ ^*' 
flaugfater,'and made themfelves mailers of his camp and 
baggage. He himfelf would have fallen into the enemy^ 
hands, had not fome of his guards conveyed him on board 
one of his veflels ^ Not long after this defeat, Romanus, 
the emperor's fon, prompted by his ambition, and inftigated 
by his wife Theophano, or Theophania, confpired againft . 
his father. Having gained over Nicetas, one of the attend- 
ants at the emperor^s table, he prevailed upon him to ad- 
minifter poifon to the prince, inftead of a potion, which 
bad been prefcribed to him by his phyficians : but the em- 
peror happening to ftumble, after he had taken in his hand 
the poifonous cup, the greater part of the draught was fpilt 
by that lucky accident ; fo that what remained had not 
the defiredefie£):j though his life was for fome time in great 
dinger. 

In the month of September of the fame year, the empe- 
ror undertook a journey to Mount Olympus, on pretence 
of requefting the prayers of the monks for the fuccefs of 
his arms againft the SaraCens, whom he defigned, if pofli- 
ble, to drive out of Syria : but the true motive of his jour- 
ney was to advife with Theodorus, bifhop of Cyzicus, by 
what means he might drive from the patriarchal fee Po- 
lyeuAus, who had fucceeded Theophyla£^us, the fon of Ro- 
nanus. Being taken ill on his journey, either by the wicked 
praftices of his fon, or through the bad habit of his body, 
he Mras carried back in a litter to Conftantinople, where he Confion* 
died on the ninth of November 960, after having lived tine dieu 
forty-four years and two months, and reigned thirteen with 
his father, uncle, and mother, twenty-five with Romanus, 
and fifteen alone >. Curopalates, whom other authors have jo, tfi^^ 
copied, charges him with being too much addi£led to wine, raSer. 
and with committing the whole management of afiairs to 
his wife Helena, and his favourite Bafilius, who, abufing 
the truft repofed in them, fet every thing to fale, beftow- 
ing the firft employments in the ftate on the higheft bidder. 
He is likewife condemned for puniihing the fmalleft faults 
with the utmoft feverity • On the other hand, he was a great 

^ Caropalat. in Conftatitin. 1 Idem ibid.. 

G 4 encourager 



«s 



R^manus. 



id fritt€i» 



Tthe ijland 
ofCftte . 

recovered. 



^he Sara 
tens onjer 
eomfi in the 



The ConfiantimpoUtan Hilary. 

cncourager of learning, which be » faid to have reVivedy 
after letters had been long negle£led. He was himfelf well 
IkiUed in moft branches of literature^ efpecially in faiftory, 
arithmeticy aftronomy, philofophy, and geometry. Zonaras 
comniends him on account Of nis piety^ which^ fays he^ 
appeared in all his writings and epiftles \ 

Conftantine was fucceeded by his fon Rooianus, fur- 
named the Boy, to diftinguifli him from the other Romanus, 
his grandfather ^ for he was the fon of Conftantine by He-^ 
l^a, the daughter of Romanus the ufurper. He is de- 
fervedly reckoned amongft the moft lewd and debauched 
princes mentioned in hiftory. Though he was himfelf ca* 
pable ^f governing well, being endowed with uncommon 
parts, yet he committed the whole management of afiPairs 
to Jofepby his chief chamberlain, that he might with more 
liberty, and without interruption, purfue his pleafures} 
which be did, without beftowing one thought on the pubr 
}ic. Soon after bis acceffion, he caufed his young fon Ba«> 
£lius to be crowned, with the ufual folemnity, by the pa- 
triarch Polyeudus ;'and imagining he had thus fecured the 
empire to his poftcrity, he took po farther care either of his 
family or the public. In the fecond year of his reign, Ni- 
cephorus Phocas, a perfon of extraordinary merit, who had 
been raifed by Conftantine to the chief command of all the 
forces of the empire, undertook, with the confent of Ro-r 
manus and the fenate, an expedition againft the Saracens in 
Crete. Landing in. that iiland, he defeated the enemy in 
feveral engagements, made himfelf mafter of all their ftron^ 
places, Cbandax Itfelf not excepted, took Curupes, thjc ka- 
lif, and Arcemas, his lieutenant, prifoners, and in the fpace 
of fcyen months reduced the whole ifland. Before he could 
fettle affairs, he was recalled by the emperor, at the infti- 

fation of Jofcpb, ^ho, growing jealous of the fuccefs of 
Jicephorus, alarmed the young prince with a pretended 
predi£tion, that he who conquered Crete fliould become 
maimer of the whole Roman e^npire. 

^bile Nicephorus thus fignalii^ed hitnfelf in Crete, his 
brother Leo was attended with equal fupcefs in the Eaft, 
where he gave the Saracens the greateft overthrow they had 
ever received. Chabdanus their kalif, with much diflSculty, 
made his efcape ; but the reft were either killed upon the 
(pot, or taken pfifoners. Such q^pibers of captives were 
fent by Leo to Conftantinople, that all the houfes, both in 
t)ie city and the neighbouring country, were, if we may 
giye credit to the writers pf thofe time^, ii}lqil with Saracen 



k Zonar. in Conftantin* 



Haves*. 



The Qn^anttttopoUtan HiSoty. 8^ 

flaves. Leot on his return to ConftantinoplC) was honoured 
with a triumph ; but his brother* Nicephorus, of whom the 
emperor entertained no fmall jealoufy on account of the 
above mentioned predidlion, was not allowed to come to 
court, but ordered to march againft ChabdanuS) the kalif ^ 
of Syria, who having recruited his army after his late de« 
feat, threatened the empire with a new invafion. ' Nice- 
phorus, meeting him on the borders of Syria, overthrew 
him in a pitched battle ^ then laying fiege to Beroea, made 
himfelf mafter of that important place, in which he found 
great wealth, and multitudes of Chriftian captives, who on 
that occafion recovered their liberty. The news of this vie- Yr. of FI. 
tory had not yet* reached Conftantinople, when the empe- 3^03. 
ror died, after having lived twenty-four years, and reigned ^- ^' 9^5* 
thirteen years, four months^ and five days. His death, ^^' '^°^* 
which happened on the fifteenth of March of the year 954, n^^^^,^ ^ 
is by fome afcribed to poifon, adminiftered to him by his di^j^ 
wife Theophano ; by othersj to his great lewdnefs and in- 
temperance *. 

He left two fons> Bafilius and Conftantine ; but as they 
were very young, the emprefs Theophano took upon her 
the adminiftration. She commanded Nicephorus to repair Hieeph^- 
to Conftantinople, much againft the will of Jofeph the prime rus comet 
minifter, and honoured him with a triumph in the circus, ^oConfiam- 
where he difplayed the rich fpoils he had taken in the ifland ^'^mmph!'' 
of Crete and the city of Beroea. During his day at Con- ^ * 
ftantinople, he found that Jofeph fufpedled him of ambi- 
tious defigns, as if he afpired to the empire. In order, 
therefore, to remove the fufpicions of the prime minifter, 
having defired and obtained of him a private audience, he 
told him, that looking upon all worldly grandeur with that . 
contempt it deferved, he had long panted after a retired and 
monaftic life ; but had been prevented from complying witiv 
his inclination by the kindnefs of his mafters, who had 
forced employments upon him of the greateft truft» At the 
fame time, he (hewed him a hair-cloth, which he pretended 
he wore conftantly next his (kin. The credulous minifter, 
furprifed at this fpepch, and the fight of the hair-cloth, fell 
down at his feet, and with tears in his eyes begging his 
pardon, declared, that for the future he would give no cre- 
dit to any tbitig that could be alleged againft him. Nice- 
phorus having thus gained the good opinion of Jofeph, was 
fufiered to return to the army m the £aft ; where he had 
not been ]ong, before Jofeph, jealous of the efteem he was 
in with the army, i)egan to repent he had let him efcape 

^ Curopal* in Romaiv 

out 



ft The Cotfiantinopolii^m Hijbry. 

enk of his hands, and feriouHy to confider by what meant 
he might put him out of a condition of ntifing dift«i4)ances 
in the ftate. As hie appreheniions daily increafed, he wrotse 
ki the end to Tzimifches and Cvrcuas, two {Mrincipal com- 
mandere in the Eaftr promifing to prefer them to the firft 
poAs in the array, provided they feised on Nicephorus, and 
fecured him in a monaftery, or by any other means removed 
him out of the way. The two officers not only delivered 
the letters to Nicephorus» but advifed him to provide for 
his own faf^ty by the only expedient now left him, th^ of 
taking upon him the fovereignty. This propofal he rejeded 
at fim, or feemed to reje£b, with the utmoft horror ; but 
TzinMfches and Curcuas threatening him with their drawn 
w'*^^5^ fwords, he accepted of the empire, as was reported, to 
r^^ fave his life, and f offered himfelf to be proclaimed emperor 
on the fecond of July of the year 954 *. 

As Nicephorus was no lefs beloved by the people of Con- 
ftantinople, on account of his affability and great exploits, 
than Jofeph was hated for his pride and haughty carriage, 
the news of what had happened in the Eail were received 
by all ranks oi people with the greateft demonftrations of 
joy, nothing being heard in the ftreets but *' Succefs and 
profperity to Nicephorus Callinicus, or the brave conqueror.'* 
The houfe of Jofeph, and thofe of his friends and adherents, 
were in an inftant levelled with the ground by the tumul- 
Niafh^rus tuous rabble. The new prince, being arrived at Chryfopo- 
tr^vmtd lis, was there met by the chief nobility, and conduced to 
"^"^H^^^* Hcbdomon, where he was crowned with great folemnity by 
the patriarch Polyeu£tus. Being thus acknowleged both by 
the people and fenate, he began his reign by banifhing Jo- 
feph into Paphlagonia, and confining him to a monaftery in 
that province* where he died. In the fecond year of his 
leign he married the emprefs TheophanOf though he was oa 
this occafion oppofed with great warmth by the patriarch, 
becaufe he had been married before, and was faid to have 
ftood godfather to one of the emprefs's children \ PolyeuQus 
even proceeded fo far as to excommunicate the emperor, 
pretending his marriage to be unlawful, on account of the 
^^* ®J ^^* above mentioned impediments : but the matter being exa- 
A.^D? Q«;«. ™'^^d ^"^ ^ fynod held for that purpofe at Conftantinople, 
U.'c.'i7o6i Nicephorus was by the aflemUed bifhops reftored to the com- 
■Mi munion of the church '• 

In the third year of his reign he raifed a powerful army, 
with a defign to drive out of Sicily the Saracens who had 

k Curopahit. Ccdren. Zonar. & alii in Niceph* ' Coropalat. 

in Niceph, 

fettled 



^e ConfiantinopoUun Hificry. pi 

fettled there, and were daily committing dreadful ravagfs qj^ 
the coafts of Italy. With the command of this army he en- ne R§- 
trufted Manuel, the natural £bn of his unx:le Leo, who being man army 
an enitire ift ranger to the art of war, fuffered himfelf to be ^^}^^ 
drawn by the enemy into the mountainous parts of the ifland# c4nsT 
where he was cut off with all his men. John Zimifces, whp 
fcomm^nded in Cilicia, was attended with fuccefs; for th^ . 
Saracens, who had invaded that province, were defeated by 
him with fuch flaughter, that the hill, on which the battle 
was fpught, was from th^t time forward called the Bloody 
pill. The fame year the Saracens in Cyprus were over* 
thrown in feyeral fucceflive battles, and in the end driyeQ 
.quite out of the iiland, which wa$ reunited to the domi- 
nions of the empire. In the fpring the emperor marched ip Yu of Fl. 
perfon ^gainft the Saracens in Cilicia, took three of thei|: 3307. 
ftrongelt cities; arid haying wintered in Cappadocia, inveft- —'P* 959- 
ed, in the beginning of the next campaign, the ciries of '*^°^* 
Mopfueila aqd Tarius at the fame time, which, after an ob- sictpkorus 
ftinate defence, were obliged to furrender at difcretion. A gains ad*- 
fleet, with a great number of troops, was fent from Egypt vantages 
to the relief of Tarfus; but the city having fubmitted three ^"^'^ '^ 
days before their arrival, they failed back, when they werp *^^'"'* 
overtaken by a violent ftorm, which deftroyed moft of their 
ihips, and drove the reft on the coafts of the empire, wher^ 
they were feized, with the foldiers on board, by the Romans. 
Nicephorus, encouraged by the fuccefs that attended his 
arms, broke into Syria the following year; and having eafily 
reduced fuch cities and forts as refuied voluntarily to fub- 
mit, he marched forward, the Saracens flying every where 
before him>,and laid (iege to Antioch : but as that metropolis Antioth ht^ 
was defended by a numerous garrifon, and well ftored with fi^^^* 
provifions, the emperor, after having continued three months 
before it, was obliged, by the approach of winter, to drop 
the enterprize, and return to Conftantinople ^. Burtzas, a TkeJUgi 
patrician, whom he had left in Syria with a large body of raijtdm 
troops, to fecure the places he had conquered in thofe parts, 
having drawn> together his forces in the depth of winter, 
inarched ftrait to Antioch, and appearing unexpefkedly be- Antioch 
fore the place, ftruck the garrifon with fuph terror, that they furprifid 
immediately fubmitted. Thus was the metropolis of Syria ^ ^w* 
once more united to the empire. *^* 

Nicephorus, mindful, fays Cedrenus, of the above men- 
tioned prophecy, inftead of rewarding Burtzas for fuch an 
eminent piepe of fervice, difcharged him, ^nd forbad him 
{li$ court* John ^imifces, who h^d ferve4 him with the ul- 

m Cl^fopal^t. ifi Niccplu 

moft 



p2 The ConJlantinopoUtan Hiftory. 

mod fidelity and uncommon fuccefs, was likewife dlfmiiTed 

upon fome groundlefs fufpicion, and baniflied the court \ a 

circumftance which in the end proved the ruin of the un- 

A €onJpU happy prince. Zimifccs, highly provoked at the undcferved 

racif Or treatment he met with, confpired with Burtzas, and feveral 

^^tk others, and found means to draw into the confpiracy the em- 

* prefs herfelf, incenfed againft her hufband, according to the 

moll probable opinion, on account of his defigning, as flie 

apprehended, to make her two fons Bafilius and Conflan- 

tine eunuchs, and to leave the empire to his brotlier Leo. 

The emprefs was not only privy to the confpiracy, but a£led 

the chief part in it ; for by her means Zimifces, and the 

other confpirators, were privately led into the palace in the 

. night-time, and conduced to the emperor*s room, where 

Yr. of FL they difpatched him with many wounds, before the guards 

33*«>- could come to his afliftance. Leo Abalantius, cutting ofF 

A, D. 962. ^YiQ emperor's head, fhewed it out of the window; which 

' unexpefted fight ftruck the guards with fuch terror, that, 

WTio is without offering to revenge the unfortunate prince's death, 

fnurdend they continued quiet, expecting what farther deGgns the 

confpirators had in view \ Such was the end of Nicepho- 

rus Phocas, in the fifty-eighth year of his age, and feventh of 

his reign. He was a prince of great valour and experience 

in war, gained feveral fignal viftories over the oaracens, 

drove* them out of the ifland of Cyprus, recovered Cilicia 

and the greater part of Syria and Afia Minor, and would 

in all likelihood, if he had lived longer, have reftored the 

empire to its ancient fplendor : but his fordid avarice, and 

the exorbitant taxes with which he loaded his fubjefts, 

eftranged from him the minds of the people 5 fo that he was, 

notwithftanding the glory he had acquired in arms, univer- 

fally hated both by the nobility and the populace, who were 

fo far from revenging his death, that they received the news 

of it with the greateft demonftrations of joy. 

JohwZi" John Zimifces was proclaimed by the confpirators, and 

mifces pro- univerfally acknowleg'ed emperor. His firft care was to re- 

ciaima move from their employments, both in the ftate and army, 

^ * all the friends of the deceafed emperor, and among the reft 

Leo, the brother of Nicephorus, whom he confined to the 

ifland of Lelbos. All thofe who had been banifhf d by his 

predeceffor he recalled, and reftored them to their former 

honours. When he thought himfelf by thcfe precautions 

thoroughly fettled on the throne, he went to the great church 

to receive the crown at the hands of the patriarch : but Po- 

lyeudus, meeting him at the door, oppofed his entrance, 

* Cedreui Zonar* ibid. 

telling 



7Tl?e Confiantinopolitan Hifiary* 93 

telling him^ that he could not fuffer the church to be pro* 
faned by one who had embrued his hands in the blood of 
his fovereign, till he had atoned by a public penance for (o 
enormous a crime. Zimifces heard the patriarch with great 
fubmiilion; and being unwilling to quarrel with the church 
in the beginning of his reign, offered to give what fatisfac- 
tion fhould be thought proper, alleging at the fame time in 
his own defence, that the emperor had not been murdered 
bv him, but by Abalantius, at the in{l,igation of the empre(s« 
The patriarch commanded him to banifli them both, and to 
revoke all the edi£ls publiflied by his predecefTor to the pre- 

1'udice of the church and the eccleCaftics; which conditions 
le readily complying with, and at the fame time promifing 
to fettle his paternal eftate on the poor, the patriarch admit- 
ted him into the church, where he was crowned, witbgrcat 
iblemnity on Chriftmas day. As for the cmprefs Theo- ^' ^r^wutd 
phano, (he was baniflied into Armeniat and there ihut up ?'•/** 
in a monaftery. 

The new emperor took her two fons BaGlius and Conftan- 
tlne for his colleagues> and caufed them to be acknowleged 
as fuch by the fenate and people of Coiiftantinople. In the Yr. of FL 
mea^ time the Saracens, hearing of the death of Nicepho- 33it* 
rus, raifed one of the moft numerous armies that had been u c? ^^* 
feen for fome ages in thofe parts ; and, giving the command , '-'''^'** 
of it to Zochares, a perfon well fkilled in the art of war, in- 7-^^ Sarw 
vefted Antioch, not doubting but they ihould be able to re- cent dt^ 
duce the place before it could be relieved by the emperor : fio^'^ ^ 
but notwithftandir^g their efforts, the befieged held out, till ^^^f^'' 
Nicolas, an eunuch, declared general by the emperor,. hav- 
ing raifed what forces he could in Mefopotamia, and the 
neighbouring provinces, fell unexpectedly upon them, gave 
them a total overthrow, and obliged them to raife the fiege, 
and return with Ihame and difgrace to their own territories. 
Next year the Rofli having driven out the Bulgarians, and 
feized on their country, advanced with an army of above 
three himdred thoufand men into the dominions of the em- 
pire ; and, having defolated all Thrace, fat down before 
Adrianople. Zimifces having firft endeavoured in vain to 
come to an agreement, ordered Bardas Sclerus, or the Bold, 
his wife's brother, to make head againft them with what 
troops he could collect. Bardas, purfuant to his orders^ 
marched to Adrianople \ but not daring to venture an en- 
gagement, having but thirteen thoufand men, he had re- 
courfe to ftratagem. Drawing a ftrong party of the enemy yj^^ /j^^ 
into an ambufcade, he firft cut them on to a man ; then fall- defeatedky 
ing ftiddenly upon the main body of their army, he defeated ^ordat ' 
|hcm with great daughter^ took an incredible number of ^^^''•'* 

prifoncrs. 



l^rifbrierir, mS wolkld not have fixStrtA one to efcape^ had not 
flight coming on obHgcrfhim t& gHc oVer the pnrfifit. Thi 
RovxVahs are faid to hate loft but twenty-five men in both en^ 
gagemcnts" •'. 

The fticceft wfach attended the Emperor's arths abroad* 
(Bd not deter feverijof the nobility from confpiring a^inft 
Barddi him at home, with a defign to raife to the empire BLfdad 
pkocA» r/- pfcocas, the late prince's nephew, who, upon thd encou- 
^"^^ ragement given him by his friends in Conftantinople, with- 

di'eW from Amaiia, the place of hisbaniihtn^nt. Bein^*oih- 
ed by feveralperfons of diftinftion, he made himfcff Maiier ot 
C^iarea in Cfappadocia^ and took upon him the imp^rid title 
and enfigns. At the fame time Leo, the father of Fhocas* 
who bad been confiticfd to tfaef iiland of Lefbos^ attemptea 
tb make his efcape from thence ^th his otheY (bfi Niccf- 
phorus, in order to join Bardas ; but being apprehended 
by rtie emperor's officers, both h6 amd Nicephorui Werd 
fentenced.to death, though foon after pardoned by th^ eW« 
peror. In the mean time Bardas Sciefus, who hacf b^en 
detached at the headof aconfiderable armyagainftPhocas,^ 
arriving at Dorylaus, the capital of Phrygia, endeatrourecf 
fiHt by fair offers to bring him and hrs accomplices back to' 
their duty ; for he had been flriftly enjoined by the embe- 
ror to abuain a» much as pof&ble from ftiedding blood. Butf 
when he found them deaf to his offers amd promifes, he Icff 
'I)ory!aus, and advanced to Cxfarea, in order to lay 'fiege' 
to the place. Upon his approach, thofe who had appeared 
the moft faneuine in the revolt, agreed to abandon PTiocas^ 
It abandon' and confalt their own fafety. Accordingly they withdrew 
edhy his with their attendants, before Bardas ihvefted the place ; fo 
fMwgrs. jIj^i- Phocas, who had with him but a fmall number of 
troops, retired from Caefarea, and (hut himfelf up in a 
. flrong caflle called Cypropaeum, which at firft he refolved* 
TAe-ribel' to defend to the utmofl extremity. But when Bard^^ in- 
Uonfup- vefled the place, and by repeated meffages affured hihi of 
pnffed. all imapnable kindnefs on his part, and at the fame time 
.undertook to obtain his pardon of the emperor, he fubfnit- 
ted ; and', depending upon the promifes of Bardas, deliver- 
ed himfelf into his hands. The emperor granted him his 
life ; but, to prevent new diflurbances, confined hitn to the 
iftand of Chios. The rebellion beihg thus fupprefled', the 
elnperor married with great folemnity Theodora, according 
to fome the fifler, according to others the daughter, of the 
late emperor Romanus. 

Curopalat. in Zimiic* 

Being 



The Coffianffn»politim Niftofy* ^5 

BeiBg it^rmed th^t the RoiB, not^tUbanding tiieir laitt 
defeat^ were prepariag to invade tbe empire again, he ire* 
folved to be beforebaiKl with themb Accordingly ha¥ing 
latfed » powerful army» a«ni committed the adminiftration 
of zSaars at home to th(^ minifters he had the greateft rea* 
foa to confide in, he kft Conftantinople early in the fpring; y^ of FL 
and) marching with great expedition over mount HaBmiMi 39 '3* 
iBvefted Perfthailba, the principal city of Bulgaria, before ^*^* 9^S* . 
the eaemy reoeiired tbe Iteaft intelligenee of hi« approach^ * * '^'*' 
A party of the Reffi, confifting of eight dioofand meti^ al- ^TMaiiU^ 
tempted to throw tbemfelves into the eity^ bat weie to a ror m*- 
man either kiUed or taken prifonerst by the Romans: ^nid§sth$ 
among the latter was SphagcHus, a perfon of great autho* f?^^^- 
rity among the Bulgarians. The Romans, animated with ^ ^'' 
, this fueceiSy attacked the city widi great refolution aii4 in- 
trepidity, but were obliged, at the approach of night, to 
retire to their aampi before the? could reduce it. Earl]^ 
next morning Zimifces, having drawn out hie men, ofiered 
dte beGeged very advantageous conditions; which they re^ 
jefling, be gave the fignal for a general attack. The Moffi 
made a moft vigorous refiftanoe ; but the Romans prevaal^ 
ing in the endy the city was taken, and great numbers of T^iat tMt 
the inhabitants!, without diftin£bion of fez or age, put to ^MtroMj 
the iword by the incenfed foldiery. Eight thoufand Scy- ^ "****• 
thians, part of the garrifon, finding the Romans mafters of 
the city, retired to the citadel, with a defign to defend 
themfelves to the laft extremity. 

As the caiftle ftood on a fteep rock, and the Romans were 
already greatly fatigued, they feemed inelined to defer the 
affault till next day. But Zimifces advancing in peribit 
againft the enemy, at the head of a fmall^ band of cfadiRi 
men, the whole army followed him, every one ftriving 
who ihould firft tbraft himfelf betwden hilB prince and the 
danger that threatened him. The Scythians fought likemenf 
in 8efpair ; but the Romans, after sr terrible* &oghter onl Tht df^da 
both fides, took the place by ftorni. All the Scythians were '^^^«« 
either driven down the rocks and precipices, or put to the 
fword. In the city, when the firft ftiry of the foldiery was 
ever, the women and the children were fpared, and, to^ 
gether with fuehmen as were found without arms', madb 
prifoners« Among the captives was Borifes king of the BaU 
garians, who, being condufled to the emperor in his rojtJf 
robes, was received in a manner fttitable to his ranJc,~mag«< 
aificently entertained, and releafed with his wife and chilw 
preix, and all the Bulgarians, Zimifces declaring. he was atr 
war with none but the Rofii. The city of Perfthalba was 

deftroy- 



^6 The ConftantinopoUtan Hijl&ry. 

deftroyed ; but the emperor, Having caufed it to be rebidltj^ 
called it after his own name Joannopolis. From thence he 
marched to Dorofteruqa, a city of great ftrength on the Da- 
nube, where he was met by the army of the Rofii, three 
hundred and thirty thoufand ftrong. However, he refolv* 
ed to venture an engagement, which they not declining, 
<me of the moit bloody battles enfued we find recorded in 
hiftory. It continued fron) morning to night, vi^ory in«» 
clining fometimes to one fide, and fometimes to the other. 
T^ R^ ^^ night approached, the left wing of the Roffi began to 
deftmud give ground \ a circumftance which the emperor obferving, 
•w/M %ri^ be charged them at the head of a chofen body with fuch 
,0migkiir. rcfolution, that they betook themfelves to a precipitate and 
diforderly flight* 

Upon their retreat, the Romans, animated by the ex- 
ample of their prince, fell with frefh vigour upon the main 
body of the enemy, and bearing all down before them, 
carried the day. The Roffi fled in the utmoft confufion to 
Dorofterum, whither the emperor purfued them, and laid 
clofe fiege to the place, which brought on a fecond battle* 
Ovuntomg wherein the Roffi were defeated again with terrible flaugh- 
maAc^d ter. However, they fl:ill held out, and in their daily Tallies 
• made dreadful havock of the Romans, till their provifions 
failing, they unanimoufly agreed to quit the city, and cut 
themfelves a way, fword in hand, through the midft of 
the Roman army. They partly fucceeded in this defperate 
attempt, though great numbers periflied, and the reft were 
obliged to fave themfelves by a precipitate flight. Their ge- 
neral, named Sphendofthalbus, finding himfen no longer in 
a condition to oppofe the Romans, fent ambafladors to the 
emperor, oilering to relinquifli Bulgaria, and conclude a 
peace upon the following terms: that he (hould be ac- 
knowleged as a friend and ally of the empire ; that he and 
his countrymen Ihould be fuflPered to return home unmo- 
lefted ; and that a free commerce (hould be fettled between 
the two nations. The emperor, who was grown weary of 
Apioci tbe war, agreeing to thefe articles, the treaty was conclud* 
betwan thi ed, and figned by both parties. The war with the Rofli 
iwona^ being terminated, to the great reputation of Zimiices, and 
tioHs. ^Yie advantage of the empire, the emperor caufed all the 

towns on the Danube to be fortified, and then returned to 
Conftantinople, where he was received with the greateft 
demonftrations of joy. He was met at fome diftance from 
the city by the patriarch, the clergy, the fenate, and ther 
people* with crowns, and a triumphal chariot, drawn by 
{bur borfes, richly caparifoned ; but he, placing the image 
• of 



lA# 



t^ CdnJiantiHopoiitah Hiftory. 9| 

ti the Virgin Mary In the chariot, followed it In a felemti 
proceffion, mounted on a white horfe, and thus entered the. 
fcity amidft the joyful acclamations of the people J*. .* . 

During the war with the Roflii feveral qhies in the Eaft, 
which had been reduced by his predeceflbry revolting^ 
obliged him to undertake another expedition. Leaving 
therefore Conftantinople, he marched into the eaftei'n TimifcH 
provinces ; and, having reduced feveral cities, partly by ^^•'»'^' 
force, partly by negociation, he advanced as far as ^2i-^2#/lii 
mafcus, and there refided fome time, applying himfelf with £^^ 
great attention to the affairs of ftate. During his ftay in the 
£aft, he was informed, that Baiilius the eunuch had en- 
grofled almoft the whole wealth of thofe provinces ; that 
moft of the fine palaces, and fruitful territories, which he 
obferved on the road, belonged to him^ and that in the 
late reign he had opprdTed the people in a moft cruel man« 
ner. Upon this information be exclaimed with a figh^ 
** How unhappy is the prefent. condition of the Roman em* 
pire, which /is thus pillaged by an avaricious and afplring 
eunuch 1*' Bafilius had ferved with great reputation under 
feveral emperors in their wars ^ith the Saracens \ and, as 
he was a man of great authority, had not a little contri* 
buted to the promotion of Nicephorus, who out of grati- 
tude raifed him to the poft of prime minifter, in which he 
was continued by Zimifces, for his great knowlege and ex- 
perience in ftate-affairs. As he had many friends at court^^ Yr. of Fl» 
he was foon informed of the emperor's refle£tion ; and ap- 33t^« 
prehending he might be called to an account, refolved ^ C I'lL 
to provide for> his own fafety : accordingly, by large pre- ' 
fents, and greater promifes, he prevailed upon the empe- Heispn* 
ror's cup-bearer to mingle poifon with his drink; and this fimdhy 
brought him to his end, before he reached Cpnftantinople. Bafilims ik$ 
Though he fufpefied his prime minifter, yet he would not '•••^^ 
fuffer any inquiries to be made about the^ treafon, but cm« 
ployed the (hort time he lived in exercifes of Chriftian piety. 
He died in 968, after*having reigned fix years and as many 
months, and was univerfaliy lamented, efpecially by the 
inhabitants of Conftantinople, whom he had eafed of n^any 
heavy taxes, with which they had been burdened by hh 
predeceflbrs. 

He is defervedly reckoned among the beft and greateft fflr tkm^ 
emperors, on account of his equity, moderation, courage, ^M&my 
and piety. He was the firft who caufed the image of our 
Saviour to be engraved on the coins, with' this legend, 
'^ Jefus Chriit, the King of kings/' The writers of thofe 

p Curopalat. inZimifo* Cedren. & Leo Gramm. ibid, 

.VoiL, XV. H tUpet 



$9^ 



BafiGus 

WtdCoM" 

fiantim* 



BarJas 
Scltrus 
ufurps the 
fifvereign* 



the ConftantinopoUtan Hffiory. 

t!fne$^ inform us, that in tlie laft battle with ^ Roffi, a 
champion on a white horfe was obfervcd br the whole 
army fighting before the firft ranks ; that to his fingle ya- 
lour was owing the vidory gained on that occafion ; and 
that as he had never been feen before, and difappeared 
after the battle, they all believed him to be St. Theodore 
the martyr, on whole annivcrfary the viftory was obtained. 
The emperor himfclf adopted this opinion v for he repaired 
a church dedicated to that martyr, and changed the name 
of Euchaneia, the city in which it ftood, to that of Theb* 
doropolis '. 

Zimifces, having no children of his own, appointed Ba- 
ilKus and Conftantine, the fons of the late emperor Roma* 
nus, by Theophano, for his fucceiibrs. But as both princes 
were under ag^, the eldeft being not nineteen, and the 
other feventeen, Bafilius the eunuch took upon him the ad- 
minifliration ; and the better to eftablifli his authority, re- 
called their mother Theophano, who had been banifhed by 
Zimifces. His i^ext care was to remove Bardar Sclerus, off 
whom we have fpok^n above. That officer had been re* 
wanded for his eminent fervices by Zimifces with the chief 
command of al} his forces in the Eaff,^ and was greatly be- 
loved by the foldiery, among whom he had been brought 
up from his youth. This popularity occafioned great jea- 
toufy in the prime minifter, who deprived him of his com* 
Riand, and fent him into Mefopotamia,t to reftrain the incur- 
Qons of the Saracens. Sclerus broke out into bitter invec- 
tives againft Bafilius ; but the prime minifter threatening 
to deprive him of all his employments, sind confine him to 
his houfe, he thought proper to obey the orders he had 
received. 

He carried with him a firm refolation of being revenged 
on his rival; accordingly, foon after his arrival, he ac- 
quainted the chief officers of the army with his defign, who 
to a man promifing to defend him, he caufed himfelf to be 
proclaimed emperor, and was faluted as fuch with loud ac- 
clamations by the whole army. Having fpent the winter in 
warlike preparations, and entered into an alliance with the 
Saracens, who fent him large fnpplies of money and horfes, 
be advanced in the beginning of th^ fp'ing towards Con* 
ftantinople. Bafilius^ ftruck with terror at the news of his 
' revolt, left no means unattempted to avert the impending 
ftorm. He difpatched orders to Peter, who bad been ap- 
pointed, in the room of Sclerus, commander of the forces 
ht the Eaft, to alfcmble all his troops, and encamp with his 



^ Cgropalat, in 2Simirc, 



• • •!. •* 



whole 



^h0 CoffiiMim^n^M Hfpfyk '9^ 

wtiole ai'my in* the neigbboifrlioail ef Cefarea* At the 
fiune time Syncellds^ bi^op of Nicomedia, a man famed 
fbr his eloquence, and the ,boliifefs of bis life, was ittkt td 
prerail upon Scterus to quit bis unjoft pretcnfions, and di& 
bmd his army. The ufurpcr received the prelate with Iha 
greateft demonftrations of efteem and ?JSe(X\oi\ y and, haT*i 
kig heard him in appearance with great fobmiffion, recumed 
this anfwer ; that haying once appeared in purple, he was 
firmly refolved never to quit it but with his life. Upon the 
Fctttm of tbe biihcp to court, Peter was ordered to fecure 
all tbe paffes, and to pr^re for a vigorous defence, in cafd 
be fiiovld be attacked, but by no means to begin hofitlitiesi 
Peter, purfuant to his orders, pofted ftfong parties in all 
ihe pafles ; butSolerus havitig^ in fpite of all oppofition^ 
open^ a way into Cappado<na, eneamped'at a fmall dif- 
lance from the imperial army; 8ev€;ral itirrtiifiies enfued^ 
without any confiderable advantage on eitber fide.' But at 
length Sclerus, falling fuddenly upon th^ emperor's army^ tmiieftou 
cut great mimHbrs in pieces, before thef ei>i:M pot tbemr th iMpi*^ 
fehnes in a pofture of defence $ a»id havilig forced the reft twU tttntf^^ 
to fa^ Ihemfelves by flight, mfcide himfelf mailer of thei# 
c^mp^ in which he foismd great lioms of Aioney« and an im^ 
ureirie quantity of arms and piichri#ons. The fame of thii 
vidory induced mod of the ea?ftern provinces to renounce 
their allegiance to the young princes, amd declare for 8cle« 
iw^ whot elated with bis fucceft, would not fo much a^ 
ildmit the amba€adors t6 his pf efetice, who were fent td 
\axbl with very honourable and advantageous propofals. Inf y^, ^f pj^ 
the mean time Leo, who had been appointed to fucceed %\i%. 
'Peter in the command of the army, arriving in Phrygia, A« D. 97e# 
marched from thence at the head of a ftrong detachment ^'^* 'y^* 
into the eafbern provinces, which had fubmitted to thtf " 

ufurper, but had been left quite deftitUfte of troops^ Thiil 
motion cMiged Scterus to divide bis army, and fend a bod]f 
of meii to cover thofe countries. But Leo intercepting 
them on their march, a battle enfued, in which the empe- 
ror's troops had the advantage, great numbers of Sclerus'^ 
men being flain,- and many taken prifoners% The ufurper^ 
Aurmed at this defeat, left Gappadocia, and coming uf^ , 
with Leo in a few days, engaged hiiti, and gained a com** 
pkte viAory. Moft of the chief officers in the emperor's « *^ 
army were flain, and Leo himfelf was ts^ken prifoner, with J^^thit 
feveral other perfons of great diftin£lion. Thofe who had nnStvtf* 
abandoned Sclerus to join Leo had their eyes pulled out by ' 

the uTurper's orders at the head of the arihy, Leo Mdifelf 
was treated with great civility, but kept under clofe con- 
finement. /* 

H % Bardasi 



V 



1 00 ' ^l^e ConftdiAlnopotUan Hifiory. 

Hi UyM Bardas, animated with this fuccefs, marclied to Nice, tlic 

Jiegt io metropolis of Bithynia, not doubting but he (hould carry 
^^'' the place at the firft aflault. But Manuel Eroticus^ whom 

Bafilius bad detached with a confiderable body of troops to 
defend its repulfed the ufurper in feveral fucceuiveattempt% 
and a£led with fuch vigour, that» defpairing of being able to 
take it by force, he refolycd to reduce it by famine. Ma- 
nuel, apprifedof his deiign, and fenfible of the great diflB* 
culties to which tne numerous garrifon would be foon re* 
duced, filled the empty granaries with fand, which they 
ftrewed over with corn» and (hewed them to fome prifoners 
he had taken \ who> being difmiiTedi reprefented to Scleras, 
that he attempted in vain to reduce a place by famine that 
was fo plentifully fupplied with corn. Soon after, Manuel 
fent deputies to acquaint Scleras that, conCdering the 
doubtful events of war, he was willing to furrender upon 
certain conditions, one of which was, that the garrifos 
ihould be allowed to march out with their arms and bag- 
n^^flact gage, and to retreat unmolefted to Conlfentinople. To 
£wrriudirt* jj^^f^ (x>nditions the ufurper g}adly confented ; but was 
highly provoked when, entering jhe city, he difcovered the 
deceit, and found the place entirely deftitute of provifions '• 
Sclerus, after the reduction of Nice, was preparing to march 
to Conftantinople, where he had many friends ready to de-^ 
dare for him as foon a$ he appeared. 

But in the mean time Bardas Phocas, whom Bafilius had 
recalled from exile, and appointed commander in chief 
• againft Sclerus, as the only man in the empire able to con- 
tend with him, arriving, with all the troops he could raife, 
.at Amorium, the ufurper thought it advifeable to march in 
the firft place againft this formidable adverfary. Accord- 
ingly he haftened with all his forces to Amorium, and an 
Bardas engagement enfuing, put Phocas's army to the rout. This 
Fhocasdi' general difcharged all the offices of a valiant foldier »adl 
featedby experienced officer, yet , his foldiers were fo difpirited by 
ScUrus. former defeats, that he could neither with words, nor by 
his example, infpire them with courage' No longer able 
to keep the field, he retired to Phrygia, and having received 
large fupplies from Iberia, and the other provinces, which 
continued ftedfaft in their allegiance, refolved to hazard a 
fecond engagement Accordingly, leaving Phrygia, he ad- 
vanced intOvCappladocia, where he found Sclerus encamped 
on a large plain named Pancalea, and ready to receive him. 
Both armies engaged with inexpreffible fury \ but Phocas's 
inen beginning, after an obftijoate difpute, to give ground, 



t Curopalati Cedicii. Leo Gramm. in BafiL 

the- 



.The ConftantinopoUtan Hijtoiy^ loi . 

tbe brave general, determined to conquer or perifh, forced 
his way, fword in hand, into the midft of the, enemy'^ 
ranks, and engaging* Scleras himfelf, wounded him dan- 
geroufly. • Some of the eiiemy*9 officers, informed of the 
dknger their general was in, flew to his refcue ; and, find* 
ing him covered ail over with blood, they carried him to a 
neighbouring fountain to waih his wound, and reffefib him, 
as he was fainting with drought. In |he mean time his 
horfe running an with his bloody mane among the rank^, 
his foldiers concluded that their general was flain \ a notion 
which bccafioned fuch conftef nation in the army, that^ in- 
ftead of purfuing the emperor's troops, who had, in fpite* Bmrdas 
of Phocas*s utmoft endeavours, began to fly, they fled them- ^«"»' • 
felves in the greateft confulion, fome throwing themfelves '^''^♦^ 
headlong down precipices, others plunging into the rivfer '^verScU'^ 
Halys, in which great numbers were drowned. Thus was' f«/| 
the fortune of the day turned, and the vidory, by a lucky 
miftake, (hatched out of the hands of the enemy, who were* 
purfued with great flaughter by Phocas. Sclerus cfcap^d 
with a fmall body of horfe to Martyropolis, and from wkvjUn 
Aence to Babylon, to implore the protection and affiftance ^^ Balykiu 
of Cofrhoes, fultan of the place ; which defign the emperor 
Bafilius no fooner anderftood than he difpatched an em- 
baflfy to Cofrhoes, reprefenting the evils that might accrue 
from one prince's prote&mg fuch as had, by an open re- 
volt, taken arms againft another* The deputies were at 
the fame time enjoined to aflnre Sclerus, in the emperor's ' 

QanaC) that he fiiould not only be pardoned, but received , 
into favour, and reftored to his former honours, provided 
he renounced his pretenfions, and returned to his duty. 
Cofrhoes, finding the ambafladors were privately treating 
with Sclerus, orderedJboth him and,them to be thrown into 
prifon, whence we (hall fee him in a Ihort time releafed^ to 
e^ccite new difturbances in tbe empire. 

The rebellion of Sclerus being fupprefled, the emperor 
Bafilius, who had taken the adminiftration into his own — i 

hands* refolved to be reverijged on the Bulgarians, who had 
made frequisnt inroads into^ the empire, while the emperor's 
troops were employed in the Ea(t. With this view he put ' 
himfelf at the head of his army, without imparting his de- 
fign either to Phocas, or any other of his generals, entered 
Bulgaria, and leaving Ijto Aleliflenus to fecure the narrow 
j>aires behind him, marched dire&ly to Sardica. But while 
^ he was preparing' to' befiege that important place, Stephen^ 
commander in chief of the weftern forces,' and an avowed 
and irreconcileable enemy to Leo MelifTenus, coming in the 
dead of night to the emperor's tenCi conjured him to lay 

H3 aiide 






filidc $11 ^lier 4engn8» 9bA isuiicdtately return vitb tH pof- 
pble eypeditioo to Cofiftabtinople, whither Lee had atready 
xnarcb^4» in order to feize on the fiprereignty^ in bia ah* 
fence* The exaperor^ alar.med.at this information, find ap« 

Erehendiog the enem^ might, Iqr feizlng the polb whi^ 
■eo waa Uid to have abandoned, cut off hia retreat, or« 
^red in great confternatipn hia army to march the fame 
night I ^bich motion being oMsrved by Samuel, prince of 
tb.e Bulgariaoa, be attacked them lA their retreat, and put 
gre^t numbers to the fword. 

The emperor with great difBculty reached PfailippopoliS| 

■ ^here be found Leo carefully attending, his duty on the ibn 

tion which had qeen af&gned him. Highly inotnfed againft 

Stephen) M^ho ba4 thua impofed upon him, he immediately 

difcharged biiyii and conferred hia employment on bis com* 

' . peti^or. Stephen however maintained to the laft, that Leo 

really intended to ufurp the empire; an afifertion which ik* 

G^nfed the iG;mperf)r lio fuch a degree, that be could net foiv 

l^ar ftrikinc turn* and dragging him in a vioi)erit paffion oh 

1 tb^ grqund by bis hair and mng beard *. The emperor ha<t 

u^df^rtafc^n the* Bulgariim expedition, as.we have obferved 

aj>ove> without impatting/his-defignto BnvdiMi Pboeas, com- 

m^ndf^r in chief of ail the. eaftem fbecea* This omiffion 

t|).?t gwtf^ higiily rfe&ntsB \ and, appreh^ncting the yo|tn# 

prince would .«ft for the future vrithout any re^t^d to hia 

Qp^Q^Jk^ h^ ^gto to entertain thoughts of ufu^fngtbe 

fardas fjiipr^me au$hortty% Thf ofEcers of the army, to* ^hom ho 

Phocas imported hia difcflntent>, encouraged him in his attempt, drid 

proclaimed ^^x^mitA tft fupport. him to< the laft 5 fo that aft«t Oiveral 

mfifor* private confer^ncea, th^:;ill aflembled fit tKehoufe of Eo- 

' ftathius Melciuui^ and them inVeflin? Phocas with the im* 

p^ial^rnamsnta, nnasimoufiy ' pboef aimed him empereirv 

Yr of Fl. Ji^i the iame time Bardas Sclerus^^ being fet «it tlbec^ty by 

S3**. Chofrhoes, fultan of Babjhin, returned int^ t\k t|ert*itortes 

lit C. 17x1. ^ ^^ empii€, at the head of three tbonfand Romltn capi- 

ttvesi .the fnltail having granted them their liberty,- in re* 

lyafd of t1;M^ en^inent fervioes againft the r^bdlUeus Pef^ 

lians. Withthefe Scforus thought himfeU Ofi^e more in a 

Cpndltion to renew his former pretenfions ; and y accordingly , 

entering Mefepotamia, was achnowleged emperon But be^ 

iig in th^ mean time informed of the revolt of Phocas. 

^Cter hiiving been fome time in fu^^enfe whether he (houla 

ScUrusfit join him or Bafilius, he o^ered at length to affift Phocasi 

^•^p2'' ^^ ^*^ ^ empire with him ; but at the fame time be , 

^w m- ^jd^ifjfd biiS fon kprnanus privately to abandon bim> and fly 

t ^uropalat. ia SaiiU ' 

, - ■ ' to 



The ConfiiMlnefsDUum Hi^ff. ^o$ 

t» BaGIius at Conftantinople. By tbde m6an«» if PlyMJis 
jprevailedj he thought he flipuld be able to obtain hia fofi'^ .,. 

pardon ; and if fiaiiliiis got ^he better# he 4id not doubt 
but his fon ^ould have intereft enough to obtain his of the 
emperor. 

Komanusj upon hU arrival at Conftahfinople, waa re>- . 
ceived by Bafilius with all poffible demonft rations of .kindr 
nefs, and raifed to the firft employmentjs in the ftate. But 
Sclerus met with a far different treatment from PhocaS;: 
ihey agreed at firft to divide the empire between tbem^ They agrtg 
Sclerus was to have Antioch, Phoenicia, Palefl:ine> Coelcj- '• divide 
fyria, Mefopotamia^ and Egypt ; Conftantinople, with the J^*' «»/«'» 
reft of the provinces, was sjlotted to Phocas. This agree- ^jf^^^ 
ment being ratified and fworn to by both parties, oclerus 
and Bardas joined their forces $ a ftep which was no fooner 
taken than Phocas caufed Sclerus to be privately feized^ Flhemt Uk 
and having (tripped him of his imperial ornamentSi com- traytmM^ 
mitted him to clofe prifon. Histropps at firft mutinied; ^c^f^^^ 
but being overpowered by numbers, th^y were forced to 
fubmity and in the end prevailed upon .with large promifos 
to ferve under Phocas; who being thus reinforced, fent 
Calocyrus Delphinus with part of his army to Chryfopolis, 
vhile he removed with the reft to Abydus, in order to be-' 
fiege that impox;tant place^ and after reducing it, to block 
jm Conftantinople itfelf. In the 'mean time the emperor 
Bafilius, acquainted with the enemy^s motions, having paff- 
ed the ftre^hts in the night» fuddenly attacked Delphinui^ 
and having put his army to flight at the firft cmfet, took him 
and fome other ofiicers of diftin£lion prifoners* who were 
immediately nailed to feveral trees on the highway, toftril^ * 
terror -into the reft* Phocas met with a vigorous refiftancc Hiieyt 
at Abydus, the inhabitants and garrifon being encpuraged J^ '^ 
by the arrival of the imperial fleet, which was immediately ^v'*'» 
follow^ by the' emperor Bafilius, and he foon after by his * * ' 
brother Conftantine. Upon the arrival of the two princes^ , 
Phocas refolved to give them battle : accordingly, leavii^ 
part of his forces before Abydus to purfue the fiege, he drew 
.up the reft in a neighbouring plain. Some of the generals 
of the young princes advifed them to throw themfelves into 
Abydus, atkl wait the arrival of frefti fupplies; but the 

{greater piu:t thinking it beft to engage the enemy without 
ofisi of time, th^y marched at the head of their forces, m 
order of battle, into the. plain where the ufurper's army was 
already drawn up. v f ra- 

Either before the engagement, or after ^he battle begart, *'• ^^ *^» 
Phocas was taken oiF.„ The manneif of his death is diflfcr- a/d.*976. 
ently rdbted : fome aflert that bis hptfc threw him, and u'c i724« 

H 4 that ■■ ■ '■- 



lo^ The ConftantinopoUtm Hijioty^ 

Fhta^ ^that he died of the fall ; others* that he was killed in the 
^i$^ firil onfet. The emperor Conftantine boafted, that he had 

killed him with his own hand ; but the moft received opi» 
nion is^ that one of his domeftics, named Symeon, in whom 
he repofed entire confidencei at the inftigation of Balilius, 
-gave him poifon before the battle, of which he died foon 
after. Be that as it may, the report of his death was nO 
fooner known in the army> than his troops fled In a pre«> 
cipitate and diforderly manner. The empeTor's forces 
purfued them clofely, cut great numbers in pieces, and 
having taken moft of the leading men of the party prifoners, 
conveyed them to Conftaniinople, where they were feverely 
punilhed, fome being publicly executed, and others ftrippea 
of their eftates and fent into banifhment. However, the 
death of Phocas, and the defeat of his army, did not pdt 
Sds^usfit an end to the civil war ; for fuch of the party as had the 
aiiiiirijf, good fortune to make their efcape, having let Sclerus at 
liberty, encouraged him to purfue his' former pretenfions^ 
and he, though '' now in a very advanced age, liftening tp 
their fuggeftions, put himfelf at their head, and marching 
into Cappadocia, reduced great part of that province. Bat 
the emperor haying written a friendly letter to him, offer- 
ing his favour and prpteftion, and his fon Romanus eameftly 
intreating him at the fame time not to involve the empire 
' in new wars, but to enjoy the remainder of his life in peadc 

lUfithmitSf and tranquility among his friends and relations, he was 
prevailed upon to quit his pretenfions, and return to Con« 
* ftantinople, where he was received by Bafilius with uncom- 

^ ipon civility, entertained at his table, and declared great 
iteward of the bouihbld. Such of his followers as had en- 
joyed offices of honour or profit under him, were cpntinued 
in the fame employments, or preferred tp pthers equally 
advantageous and honourable. 
$ajilin$ The civil war being thus happily ended, Bafilius made 

nfifits the , n progrefs into Thrace and Macedon ; and having left a fuf- 
fafiernpro" g^j^nt number of troops at Theflalenica to aw? the Bulga- 
%ftnce^» rians, he pafled into AC a with the reft, to fettle the ailairs 
of the eaftern provinces. On his march through Cappa- 
docia he was entertained with his whole army by Eufta- 
I thius Melenius, commander of the troops in that province. 

The great wealth whiofa Melenius difplayed on that oc- 
cafion gave the emperor fuoh umbrage, that, pretending 
f particular efteem for him, h€ took Kim to Conftanti- 
nople, whence he iiever after fuffered him tp depart, left 
he fbould raife commotions in the empire; and after his 
death feized on his vaft eftate. The emperor, upon his re- 
fujri^ to Conftantinoplei was informed^ that Samuel, king 

of 



The ConfiantinopolUan Hijlory. 1 05 

of the Bulgarians, had farprifed the city of Theflalonicsiy 
and» having crofied the Peneus, was ravaging Theflaly9 
Baeotia, and Attica, and, that fome of his parties had pe- 
netrated into the very heart of Peloponnefus. In confe- 
quence of this intelligence Nicephorus Uranus, commander y ^ _ 
in chief of the weftern forces, was difpatched againft him^ 33S7« 
at the head of a powxerful army. Uranus, leaving his bag- A D. 979. 
gage at Larifla, reached by long marches the Sperchius, and ^^C i?*/, 
encamped with his whole army over-againft the, cnemy^ „. ^ 

who lay on the oppofite bank. As the river was greatly ^y^fT 
fwelled with the heavy rains that had fallen, Samuel, not Bui^m^ 
imagining that the Romans would attempt to pafs it, fnffer* rkuu* 
ed his troops to difperfe in large parties about the country 
in queft of booty : but Uranus having difcovered a place 
where the river was fordable, pailed it in the dead of night, 
and falling unexpectedly on the Bulgarians, who were for SamuL 
the moil part afleep, killed great numbers, took their bag- kingefthg 
gage, with many prifoners, and made themfelyes mafters of B»^4- 
their camp. Samuel and his fon were dangeroufly wounded, *^"'^j ^' 
and would unavoidably have been taken, had they not all ^' ^ ' ' 
that day concealed themfelves among the dead. Next night 
they dole away to the mountains of iEtolia.and from 
thence efcaped into Bulgaria ^ In the following year the • 
emperor Bafilius entered Bulgaria, at the head of a numer- 
ous and well-difciplined army ; and, having defeated Sa^- j 
muel in a pitched battle on the banks of the Axiu8» took 
Vidina, Scopi, and feveral other ftrong cities. However, 
the emperor narrowly efcaped being cut off with his whole 
-army in the ftreights of Cimba, where he was attacked by 
Samuel $ but refcued from the danger he was in by the fea- 
fonable arrival of Nicephorus Xipbias, governor of Philip- 
popolis, who falling upon the enemy's rear, put them to 
flight. Bafilius having in the purfuit taken an incredible 
numb{:r of prifoners, caufed their eyes to be pulled out^ 
leaving to every hundred a guide with one eye, that he 
might condu£l them to Samuel ; wKo, not able to endure the 
ihock of fuch a horrid and a£Fe£ling fpeClacle, fell into a Sanutel 
deep fwoon, and died two days after. Samuel was fuc- dia^ 
teeded by his fon Gabriel, who was foon after murdered 
by John BladiRhlabus, a perfon nearly related to him. fila«» 
difthlabus being acknowleged prince of the Bulgarians^ fent 
ambaflfadors to Bafilius, offering to fubmit to any terms^ 
afid to own himfelf, and behave on all occafions, as a fub- 
je£l arid vaflal pf the empire. The emperor received the 
i^mbafly in ^ very condefcending manner, but the new 

I Curopalat in BafiL 

prince 



]o6 ^he Conflahtinopolitan V^oiiy. 

m 

prince decHoing, under various pretences, to execute the 
^hditions agreed on, Bafilius returned the following year 
ihto Bulgaria, firmly refoived not to (heath his fword tin 
he had entirely deduced it under his dominion. 

Accordingly, in the fpace of t^x^o years he reduced tnoA, 
of the enemy's fortreffcs, and gained feveral vi£lories over 
Bladiftfalabus, who had defended his country with incre* 
dibk valour, but was at length flain in a battle fought near 
Acbridus. At length the Bulgarians fen t deputies to the 
Roman camp, with offers of a total and unfeigned fubmi& 
TV Buk^ fio"* BafiliuB received them with his ufual civility ; and> 
riMAftk* having raifed to the rank of patricians fuch of the Bulgarian 
mit tQ th$ jiobility as feemed moft forward in furrendering their caftles 
^^*^^* and forts, he was received with loud acclamations into the 
city of Acridus, where he found the vaft treafures of the 
Bulgarian princes, which he diftributed amongft his fol- 
diers. Soon after, the widow of the late king, with her 
fix daughters, ^nd three of her fons,^ delivered herfelf up to 
the emperor, who received her witli the greateft kindnefs 
and refpe£l, and entertained her in a manner fuitable to 
her rank. This demency encouraged her three other fons^ 
with moft of the princes of the blood, who had taken Ihelter 
ttmong the mountains, to fubmit, and throw themfeive$ 
iipon the emperor's mercy. 
IbaUtes However, Ibatzes^ a perfon nearly allied to the royal fa- 

aUne holds jnily, who had diftirtguifted himfelf during the whole 
•*'• courfc of the vrar, fled to a fteep and craggy mountain, with 

a defign to defend himfelf to the laft extremity. Bafilius 
endeavoured by fair means to induce him to fubmit to necef- 
Cty, and conn)ly with the prefent. pofture of affairs; but be 
equally defpiung the emperor's threats and promife§, Euftai- 
Adefptrau thius Daphnomelns, whbm Bafilius had lately appointed 
attempt of governor of Achridus, without imparting his defign to any 
Daphno* ^^^^ repaired, with two perfons in whom he could confide, 
*"*'* ' to the mountain where Ibatzes had fortified himfelf. He 
hoped to pafs uhdifcoVered among the many ftrangers who 
flocked thither to celebrate the approaching feaft'of the Af- 
fumption of the Virgin Mary, for whom Ibatzes had a par- 
ticular veneration ; but being difcovered by the guards, hi^ 
was feiied, and carried before Ibatzes, to whom he pre- 
tended to have matters of the greateft importance to com- 
municate. Ibatzes received him in a very kind manner ; 
irnd having, at his regueft, followed him into'^a remote 
place, Daphnomelus tnrew himfelf fuddenly upon him ; 
and his two men, who waited at fome diftance, and with 
whom the whole fcheme had been concerted, coming up, 
9lid thrufting their cloaths violently in^o his mouth, pulled 

out 



The Cca^auHmpiJ^m Hifioiy. 



m 



Mt b^Ti his tjct, and ^ot fafe to an abandoned ciifHc om 
the top of the hill 4 vrbicb Diatzes's men inYcftcd on all 
^dc8> as foon as thef hezrd of tKe mififortune Mrbicfa had , 

licfaikn their lesidiBr. But Ds^ihnomeius exhorting theoi 
4o follow tke ejiainplc of .their ootintrjtnien, and, now that 
they were deftitute of a leader, to fubmit to the emperory 
by whom he afiured them, they fhould be well received, 
and amply rewarded, inftead of attacking the caftle, they 
congratulated Gaphnomelus on his fuccefs, and too^ an 
oath of allegiance to the emperor of the Romans. Here- Bulgaria 
upon Daphnomehis> quitting the caftle, carried Ibatzes, tntirefy 
without the leaA oppofition, to BaCIius, who, no lefs fur- f^hdutd. 
prifed at the boldnefs th^ the fuectfs of the attempt^ .re- 
warded his officer with the government of Dyrrachium, 
slnd all the ricii moveables* of nisprffoner. Bafilius, hav- 
ing at length accomplifhed the entire ^edufti^n ^> B^ga- 
ria,' returned with an incredible number of prifoners and 
hoftages to CbnftairiiRople, wl^ere Ik^ was received wi(tli all ^ 

poffible demonftrattons of jay by the fenate and peo^e. 

After the cofichifion of this war, the emperof underlook 
in expedition i»to H>e;!ia ; hut with what fucoefe.we are 
not t<kd. During his abfcncc, Xiphivsy and Nieephoruay 
die fon of fiarda^ Phocas, rented ; but Xiphius bekij^ 
lained over by Bafilius, fupprcQed . the rebellion, , by dft£ 
patching his fellow^ooafpirator.' Bai&Uus proceeded with 
great feverity agaiaft aU who had: b^en, or were oasly Aiiv 
M£3:ed of having.been, privy to dne oon^f acy. Great nttm* 
bers of the nobitity wiere on thtsroccafion either put todeathi 
ei font into exile ; which rigoor occafioned fome oommon 
tkms at Conftantinopk : but the ringleaders, being feiaed^ 
and publicly executed, the city was reftored to it^ format 
tranquility. In loxlS, the emperor, though then in thiS i%^ Bafilius 
ventieth year of bis age, refolv^d to engage in another war riMves ta 
againft the Sairaeene, whob^d fettled in Sicily, and com^ ^'StT^ 
mitted dreadful ravages on the coafts of Naples and Cabh ^^a^nu ; 
jbria ^ which eotintvieS; were (tiU fobjeA to the empire* Ac« 
cordingVy havii^ ^iiembled a powerfol army, and. eqaipped 
a formidable fleet| be detached a ftrbog body of forces, iui<« 
<t<r the condttft of Oreftesi his fevoiirite eunuch, intemilsi^ 
po follow in perfon foon after with the reft of the army ; Init 
^ was prevented by death, which overtook htm in the montb Yr. of Fl. 
ef Deeembfr, after he had lived feventy years, andreignedr iz66. 
fifty* He w^ greatly efteemcd by his fubjeds for his ap-« ^'^* ^<y|* 

tlication to public ataivs, and his fiicce& in the Um^ and ' ''^ ' 
ioody war which he undertook againft tbe Bttlgartans: tut is pre- 
but as his jealoufy increafed wiA his years^ towards the wutidhy 
flpfe of bis reign be gre«v4D^9taibly feveie $ ^ whiefa ac« diotk. 

count 



io6 The ConfiantinopoUtM H^ory. 

count he was rather feared than beloved by his fui^caflt. 
The abfolute conqueft of Buigariai which had been in vain 
attempted by fo many of his predeceffors, but was happily 
accompliflied by him, has rendered the name of Bafilius IL 
* famous among the Roman» or rather the Conftantinopolt- 
tan princest 



CHAR LXX. 

The ConJIantinopalitan Htftory^ from tjie Death 
of Bafilius IL to the Taking ofConJiantinople 
by the Latins. 

CwfioM* "13^ ^^ death of Baiilios, Conftantine^ iCho had bome 

tint. Jj the name of emperor, in conjunction with his brother^i 

remained fole mafter of the empire. As he was an efien 

Hh*wUM minate, vicious, and indolent princct he entirely negleded 

ri^». all public affairs, to follow his private diverfions, fufiering 

his minifters, moft of them perfons no leb infamous than 

himfelf, to opprefs the provinces without control. By 

thefe means the empire, which had begun to revive under 

Nicephorusi Zimifces, arid Bafilius, was, in the fliort reign 

of Conftantine, brought to as low an ebb as it had ever ex-* 

perienced. Such perfons as had, either by their exploits 

or virtues^ acquired reputation in the late reign, were ro» 

* moved from their erhployments, to make room for the env^ 

peror's companions in his debaucheries. Nicephorut Com- 

nenus, a perfon no lefsefteemedfor his virtue than bis ex-* 

perience* in war, was at the fame time deprived of his 

^ eommand and his fight, under pretence of contpiring againft 

thi:emper6r, though, in reality, his eminent virtues, which 

girt umbrage to the abandoned prince, were his only crimes, 
ardas, the ibn of the celebrated Phocas, who had ferved 
Bafilius with the utmofL fidelity,, and diftinguiflied himfelf 
on many occafions, was treated with the like feverity. Many 
other perfons of. great diftinflion, who appeared to diflike 
the emperor's condu£):, were, under various pretences, ei« 
ther put to death, or fent into exile. Such proceedings 
raifed a general difcontent at homct and at the fame time 
; encouraged the nations abroad to make irruptions into the 

territories of the empire ; but they were reftrained by the 
care and vigilance of thofe who commanded on.the boniers*. 
It was hajppy for the ftate, that Conftantine's reign was 

ihort} 



The ConftaHtinopoUtan H^oryn 109 

; for he had fcarce governed three years alohei 'wfita 
he fell dangerouflv ill. and was given over by his phyficians % 
a eircumftance wnicfi divided the court into two fafbions 
concerning his fucceflbry fome propofing Conftantine De« 
kfleousy commander of the forces in Arinenia, and others - 
ttfing all their intereft in favour of Romanus Argyrus, a per-* 
(on of an ancient family, nearly related to the emperpr. As 
Conftantine had three daughters, it was agreed, that who* 
ever fucceeded him ffaould marry one of them. Romanus 
was already married, and therefore feemed, by this agree- 
ment, to be excluded from the empire ; but his triends, who 
were the moft powerful at court, and the emperor's chief 
favourites, prevailed upon the prince to declare in his fa« 
vour» and fending for hipi gave him his. choice, either to 
be deprived of his fight, or to divorce his wife, and, mar* 
rying one of the emperor's daughters, be raifed to the dig- 
nity of Caefar. Romanus fcemed at firft inclined rather to 
lofe his eyes and the imperial dignity than part with his 
wife, whom he tenderly loved ; but fhe, informed of what Yr. of FL 
pafled, retired immediately to a monaftery, and by embrac- 3S^9* 
ing a monaftic life, made room for Zoe^ the emperor's fe« ^'Sj '^!'* 
Gond daughter, to whom Romanus^^as married^ and at the *'^ ^* 
fame time created Csefar. Three days after the nuptials, CwflMtmi 
Conftantine died, in the year 1021, the feventieth of his ^/* 
age, and third of his reign without a colleague. 

Romanus, thus raifed to the empire, began his reign by Rmanut 
etfing the people of the exorbitant taxes with which they ''• 
had been burdened by his predecefTor ; a ftep which gained 
him the hearts c^ his fubje£ts. His liberality to the church 
knew no bounds, and his indulgence to the unhappy cap- 
tives, who had been taken in the late wars, was no lefs re* 
markable ; for they were all ranfomed at his private ex« 
pence» fupplied with money to defray the charges of their 
joumey» and fent to their refpe£Uve countries **. The Sa« 
racens, who. had continued quiet in the reign of BafiliuSf 
but had begun to prepare for war in that of Conftantine, 
now broke into that part of Syria which belonged to the 
Romans, and, with their daily incurfions, greatly harrafled 
the territory of Antioch. Spondyles^ who commanded the 
troops quartered in-Antioch, and that neighbourhood, en* 
deavoured to reftrain them ; but being in feveral encounters 
worfted, the emperor refolved to march in perfon into Sy« 
ria, and retrieve, if poiBble, the reputation of the Roman 
arms* Purfuant to this refolution, he departed from Coh^ 
ftantinople^ at the head of a very numerous army. Before 

. . . . « Curopalat* in Roman* 

he 



TJk^ honfiwithtefoSiM BJhryi 



IIO 

Yr of Fl. ^ '^ tdvaaced Car ofn his way, be was mtt h$ anil>lffii« 

\yjo. ' ^of^ from the Saracens of Beroeai who, alarmed at hh vaik 

A.D. 1011. prep^radonSt fned for peace,, promifing at the fame time 

U, C. 1770. to pay their aival tribute for tbe future, and ocver more to 

„ ittfefk tbe territories of the empire. Moft of the cAcerai 

h^fom ^^ ^^^ army adtifed HomnnDs to accept of tlierr fdbtniffion^ 

i^ain/ thi ^^^ "^ ^ engage rafkly in a war, which, in all iibdihoody 

Saratens. woaM prove both bloody and expenfi?e s b«t he^ promi& 

ing himfelf great glory and advantages from that expedi« 

don, difiniiTed the envoys with difdatn^ and cntermg Syria^ 

dBaachedaftrongparty tooMtrvetheenem/smotioni. The 

party, fbUiM unhappily idto an ambufcade, were cpit off 

to a man. The ^Saracens, elated with this fuccefs, attacked 

Conftantine Delafienus, who had been fent out with » 

fttong body of troops to cover die Roman fbrage#s^ put fcint 

to flight, and purfued him to the very gates of the campy 

which they invefted on all fides. 

Tbe emperor's army being foon reduced to the utifnoft 

extffenftity for want of provifionsr and watef» it was agreedy 

in a council of war,, that diey ihoold decamp in tbe nighty 

ttiM Mm^m skod acmrcfa to Amioeb : but tbe Saracens, who Ti^lantfar 

^m^ watched their motbns, faUmir upon tftem witli grlrt ^ 

lonce in their retreat, pot moft pf them tK) the fword, the- 

emperor himielf efeaping witb the utmoft difficulty to An.* 

*the bag' tioch. The enemy took all the emperor's baggage, whidi^ 

gag0 •/ tAf however, was recovered by Gedi^ge Maniacfes, at that time 

^'^'^T^ S^'*^"*^ ^ a /mail town in tbofe parts, in the fbllovni^ 

MMiaci/. i^^nncr : eight hundred Saracens, loaded wicb the rich plasi« 

(kr ol thr emperor's camp, appeared before the place, and 

affirmkq^ that the emperor himfelf was taken, and his army 

totally defeated, fummoued Maniaces to &rnesider. Ma« 

macesy informed of the emperor's efcape, bat pretending 

tO'^e credit to what they a&ned, fent them out a great 

quandty of provifion^ to refreih themfekves that nigbtj and 

pmmifed to deliver up the town as foon as h was light* In 

confequence of this promife the enemy, without the leaft 

diftrifft, pafied the greater part of the night in mirtb and 

jdJity ; but when they were intoxicated and aileep, Maffi-^ 

aiee$„ faliying out,^ ma^ a terrible fiaiughter v ?i»d Iming 

taken, two hundred and eighty cameU loaded with the fpoilr 

of tke Roman armvy he fent them to the emperor, wbo te^ 

warded him for this* important fervice with the govemment 

of Media: ^. in the mean time Romaiaias, having witb di£-* 

fieufty reached Cappadiociay returned, wirh the i%emaisnrof 

fais &atterect army, to Couftantinople ;- aiid thex^ buying' 

w CiMiropvkati Cedr^, Zoiftir. 

afide 



• • • r r 

TBe Q>nftantinopoUtan Hiftory. ti i 

"aSde all tliouglits of any warlike attempts, made it his 
vbole ftudy to fill the treafury^ which had been quite 
drained by the prodigality and extravagance of his prede- 
ceffor. With this view he Renewed his claim to old debts» jj^„ft|»«f 
thought to have be^n entirely forgotten, and proceeded with ofpreps 
fiich rigour in the recovery of them, that many perfons of thefeofh* 
diftmflion were driven from their eftates, and reduced with 
their families to beggary. Thefe fevere exa£lions raifed a 
general difcontent in the people, which gave rife to feveral 
plots and coYifpiracies, for the mod part carried on by Theo- 
dora, the late emperor's youngeft daughter, who was on 
that account confined to a monaftery, and obliged to take 
die religious habit ; which we (hall fee her hereafter ex« 
diange for the imperial purple. 

In 1025, the fourth of Romanus's reign, a dreadful plague Siverat 
infefied Cappadocia, and raged with mch violence m that pubHcea'm 
province, as well as in Papfalagonia and Armenia, that the ^^^"^^^^^ 
inhabitants were forced to abandon their dwellings, and re- 
tire to other parts of the empire. The plague was followed 
by a terrible famine, and that by earthquakes, which de-* 
ftrov^d feveral cities, and overturned many ftately edifices 
at doaftantinople, where it was felt for the fpace of forty 
days. At the fame time a comet appeared> which pafled 
with a terrible noife from the north to the fouth, the whole 
horizon feeming to be in a flame. Romanus, alarmed at' T^t tmff- 

diefe, and feveral other public calamities and prodigies, ^J^r applies 
■ ' - *- - - - ^ . * «» . . him/elf 




putj. 

empire. He ere&ed feveral hofpitals for* the relief of the 
poor, repaired thofe which had been deftroyed by the late 
earthquakes, rebuilt the aquedufts, fupplied the city with 
Water, of which it began to be in great want, and, above 
all, enriched with large donations the monafleries, bellow- 
ing on the monks whole cities, and the moft fruitful lands 
in the provinces, purchafed by him at the public expence. 

In the mean time the emprefs Zoe, a moft lewd and in- T/n tm* 
continent woman, defpifing her hufband, now in the fixty- p/ffsfalli ^ 
fixth vear of his age, caft her, eyes on Michael, the brother ^"-^V^t^ 
of John, an eunuch in great authority with the emperon ^^^ 
As Michael, though meanly bom, was a man of a comely 
afpeft, graceful perfon, and infinuating addrefs, the em- 
prefs began to entertain a violent paflion for him ; which^ 
as flic abandoned herfelf to it, grew in a fhort time fo pow- 
erful, that (he refolved to ditpatch her hufband, and efpoufe 
Michael. Accordingly, having imparted her defign to fuch 
of her creatures as we could confide ini poifon was admi- 

niftered 



112 Tht Co^animpoUtan IT^orj. 

niftered to the unhappy prince, which in a (hort time te^ 

Tr. of Fl. duced him to 9 moft deplorable condition. However, the 

3)75* emprefS) thinking it too flow in its operation, hired an aC* 

A«D. ic»7* faiEn» who, entering the bath where the emperor was re- 

*V' '775' frcfliing himfelf, held his head under water till he expired. 

JfifUffffff ^'^ death happened on the eleventh, or, as others write, 

mtr4erid. on the fifteenth of April of the year 1027, after he had 

reigned five vears and fix months. 

. nomanus oeing dead, the emprefs Zoe fent for the pa-* 
triarch Alexius in great hade, who was then celebrating in 
the church the office appointed for Good Friday, for on 
that day the emperor was murdered. As Alexius had been 
fent for in Romanus*s name, he was greatly furprifed when 
he heard he was dekd ; and much more when the emprefs^ 
. upon his being introduced, ordered him to marry her to 
MCckoil Michael. Struck with horror and amazement, he declined 
tke F«- the office for fome time ; but was at laft, with a prefent of 
^^^^ a hundred pounds weight of gold, prevailed upon to com- 
^Zueand P'T' ^^^^^ ^^ ceremony, the new emperor acquainted the 
isrlnfid people with the death of Roman us» and bis own marriage 
H the #»• with Zoe, who, he faid, had taken him for her partner m 
pirt. ^iie empire, to which (he had an undoubted right. Letters 

to the fame purpofe were difpatched into the provinces, 
where none of the great men feemed difpleafed at the pror 
motion of Michael, except Conftantine. Delaflenus, who 
had been named to fucceed Bafilius II. and being, on ac- 
count of his rank and family, the firft man in the empire, 
was greatly offi^nded that a perfon of Michael's obfcure 
birth (hould be preferred to him. But John the eunuch, 
MichaePs brother, haying with repeated oaths, promifes, 
and affi^verations, prevailed upon him to come to court, ba- 
niflied him, as foon as he had him in his power, to the 
ifland Prota, whence he was removed to a ftrong tower9 
and kept under clofe confinement, till he was fent for to 
court by the emprefs Zoe, as we iliall relate hereafter. 
Several , At the fame time John took care to remove, and under 
ferjons of various pretences to fend into exile, thofe who gave him the 
di/inaion j^aft umbrage, or feenaed to be ill afFefted to his family : 
^41ihi Conftantius Monomachus, afterwards emperor, was con- 
^^puicti' fined to a caftle; Maniaces, who was highly efteemed aiid 
beloved by the people, was fent into Upper Media, under 
|>retence of reftraining the incurfions of the Saracens \, all 
the friends and relations of the late emperor were driven 
from their eftates and employments, and the government 
of the proyinces, as well as tHe charge of civil affairs, com- 
mitted to none but eunuch;^. John, having eftabllQxed his 
brother's intereft in the provinces, began to reflect on the 

fate 



The Conjlantinopotitan tiiftofy. '113 

fete of Romianus ; and, diftrufting the fickle temper of l2oe, 
removed all the women in whom (he repofed' any confi- 
dence ; and difcharging her eunuchs, appointed others, in 
whom he could confide, to attend, or rather to watch her: 
fo that fhe could not ftir out of the palace without his know* 
lege and confent. The emprefs, incenfed at the reftraint ' 
put upon her, and confidering John as no other than her 
gaoler, endeavoured to difpatch him by poifon ; but the de- . 
Cgn beilig difcovered before it could be put in execution, 
the minifter ftood henceforth oil his guard, and watched 
her more narrowly. Michael the emperor fuiFefed John to wohgo* 
govern with abfolute power, applying himfelf wholly to his '^trns 
devotions. Being cotifcious of the heinous crime he had *'''^*' 
committed, in murdering his fovereign, he hoped to make * 

atonement by works of piety, by his liberality to the poor, 
and by erefting and endowing churches, hofpitals, and ora- 
tories. Ais he began to grow dlftempered in his body, and 
difordered in his mind, John, concluding that, if he died, 
the emprefs would endeavour to recover her authority, and 
would not fail, if flie fucceeded, t6 gratify her revenge with 
the total ruin of him atid his family, prevailed upon the -W/V^^// 
emperor to prefer Michael, furnamed Calaphates, his fitter's ^^P^^* 
fon, to the dignity of Csefar, and to banifli all the friends Cafar* 
aTid relations of the emprefs Zoe *. 

' In the third year of Michaels reign, a peace for thirty 
years was concluded between him and the Saracens of Egypt, 
whofe kalif being dead, his widow is faid to have embraced 
the ChriftiaH religion, and to have brought about an agree- 
ment between her fubjefts and the Romans. The following 
year 103 1 was remarkable for dreadful earthquakes, which 
damaged feveral cities in difltrent parts of the empire, and 
for an attempt of the Saracens on the city of Edefia, which 
nanowly efcaped falling into their hands. Twelve of the An attimfi 
chief men of their nation, prefenting themfelves before the •/'^ ^^'' 
gates, with five hundred horfes, and as many camels, loaded ^^^^^ 
with large chefts, demanded admittance, pretending they ^^^^ 
were carrying prefents to the erhperor. The governor re- 
ceived into the city the twelve ambafFadors, as they ftyled 
themfelves, and entertained them at a banquet ; but could 
not be prevailed upon to admit the horfes and camels : which 
diftruft preferved the place ; for the chefts were filled with 
armed men, who, in the dead of night, were to feize on th« 
city. The defign was difcovered by an Armenian to the go- 
vernor; who, fuddenly withdrawing from the banquet, and 
taking a fufficient force, furprifed and put to the fword all 

* CuroiMdati ■ Cedren. Zoaar. 
• Vol. XV. I th« 



IH 



Yr. of FJ. 

3381. 
A. D. 1033 

U.C. 1781. 

rht Bul- 
garians, rt' 
nfolt I 



and the i»- 

habitants 

ofDyrra" 



( 



neimpe- 
ror is put 
toftight. 



Tkeffahni- 
€a befagicL 



Tbe ConfimtlnopQlitan I^orp 

the Saracens without the town ; thea returning to hi$ gueftsy 
Seated them in the like mannefy fparing but one^ wbofe 
handsy ears, and nofe, he cut off, and fent hi«» home in that 
condition, to give his countrymen an account of what had 
l^appeued ^. 

The following year the Bulgarians reyolted, an4s Ihaking 
off the yoke, chofe Deleanus, or, as fome call him, Dolianus, 
for their king. He wasfervant to a citizen of Conitantinople; 
but efcaping from his mafter, fled into Bulgaria, bi$ native: 
country, pretending that he wa6 the fpn of G^briei^ and 
grandfon of Samuel. The Bulgarians, weary of the jokc^ 
to which they had but lately fubmitted, received him as thei^ 
deliverer, and having proclaimed him king, murdered aU 
the Romans who had the misfortu^ne to fall into their hands* 
At the fame time the inhabitants of Pyrrachium, unable 
to bear the cruel exadUoos. of their governor Michael PermcH 
oaitas, drove him out of the town, and defpairi^g of par-* 
don, openly revolted, and chofe Teiclvomerus, a foldier of 
great reputation amongft them, for their kicvg. Deleanus* 
the new king of Bulgariaj^ no fooner heard of this revolt,^ 
than he wrote ah obliging letter to TeichomeruSf offering 
to (bare the kingdom of Bulgaria with him, pj^ovided he 
joined him with all his*fpllowers. Teichomems, not Tuf- 
pe£ling the kaft treachery^ readily received him tijito Pyr- 
rachium; butDeleanus, ipfteadoi performing his promife, 
caufed the credulous and unhappy Teichoj;nerus to be mur- 
dered : then marching to ThefTalonica, where the emperor 
lay encamped, he itrutck,with his unexpe£ied s^pjp'oach, fuch 
terror into the Roman army, that they fled with Michael in 
the utmoit confuGon to Con flan tinople, leaving all their 
biaggage behind, under the care of Manuel Ibatza, who, be- 
traying his trull, delivered it up to the enemy. 

In the mean time Aludanus, the brother of John the lafl; 
king of Bulgaria, who, when that country fubmitted to Bafi- 
liuS} had been raifed to the dignity of a patrician, having 
made his efcapc from Confliantinople, and got undifcoTcred 
into Bulgaria, was reiceived by His countrymei^ with great 
demonftraiiiOns of joy. As he wa^ a irea} defcendent of the 
royal family^ his arrival gave great umbrs^e to DeleanuSi 
\i(ho, peverthekfs, to iiigratiate himfelf with the pei9lie» 
tQok him for his colleague in the empire, w^A fent; him, ac 
the head of forty tboufand men, tQ befiege Theffalonica. 
Aludanus diilinguifhed hinifelf on that occafion in a very 
eminent manner; but the vigorous oppodtion made by Con- 
ftantinethe p^tQcian obliged him to raife the fiege^ ^^ re« 



y Cttjropalat* OdtrcA* %Qa«t« 



tiie, 



the (hnianHw^UiaH t^or^i 1 15 

tire^ after he had Io(l fifteen tboufand men in the itnder* 
ticking. Deleanus feized this opportuiiity to iefTen the prer 
dit of his colleague, publilhing, that he ms^tained a pri-« 
vate correfpondence with the Romans : but AluGanus^ ap- 
prifed of his evil deGgns, refolved to fruftrate his intentions* 
Accordingly* having invited him to an entertainments be 
caufed bis eyes to be pluqked out; and th^n, diftrufling the 
fickle humour of the Bulgarians, returned to Conftantinople, 
after his friends had obtained his pardon of the emperor, fktempi* 
Upon his return Michael, though gricroufly affiled with ^^^ *"^*^^ 
a dropfy, entered the enemy's country at the head of a pow- f]JJ/^^j!^^ 
erful army, and attacking the Bulgarians, now deftitute of 17. ^^^ ^^« 
s^ hi^ad, put them to flight, ^nd obliged them to fubmit once Jigns th$ 
more ^o the yoke. The e^nperor returned in triumph to tntpurt. 
Confl;fintinpple \ but finding his dlAemper daily encreafing, 
he foon ^fter divefted hi^&lf of the imperial purple, ana 
entering into a monaftery, ^hich h^ himfelf had built, fpent 
the remaining partof his life in ads of piety and repentance. 
He died on the tenth of Pecember f 0351 after he bad reigned 
feven years and eight months. 

Upon his death Michael Calaphate$9 bis fitter's fon, who Yr. of FI* 
had been created Caefar, and at tb? fame time adopted by . 33^4* 
Zoe, as fome authors maintain, was proclaimed emperor. ^•^' '°|5- 
Upon his acceffion to the empire, probably out of complain '^ ^' 

fance to Zoe, who appeared very zealous in his intercft, he Miehmel 
banilhedbis uncle John the eunuch, and proceeded with the Catopiu^ 
like unnatural feverity againft his other reiationsi caufing ^^'« 
^oft of them, without any regard to their age or circum« 
ftance9, to be made eunu$:hs. Jealous of his authority, he 
caufed the emprefs Zoe to be confined to a monaftery, un- 
der pretence that flie had, by withcraft and forcery, at-* 
tempted to take away his life> His flagrant ingratitude to 
one who bad been chiefly inftrumental in his promotion, 
and xvas ftill held in great veneration by the people, on ac- 
count of her high birth, provoked them to fuch a degree, 
that breaking out into a general fcdition, with univerfal 
confent they fent for Theodora, the emperor Conftantine's Zoe and 
youngeft daughter, who had been fhut up in a monaftery, as Theodora 
we haveobfcrved above, and faluted her emprcfsj^ with her raifidtQ 
filler Zoe. Michael, finding the people in gcneraljncenfed ^^',fi^^* 
againft him, voluntarily retired with his uncle Conftantine ^^^* 
to a moBaftery, where they both took the religious habit, 
hoping by that facrifice to appeafe the enraged multitude : 
but Theodora, who was more provoked againft them than 
Zoe herfelf, moving that their eyes fliould be plucked out^ 
the populacci burfting into the church of St. John the Bap- 
tift, where they had taken refuge, dragged them from the 

I z altjit 



ii6 



Michpieldt' 

poftdand 

bemtfhid. 

Yr. of Fl. 

33«S« 
A.D. 1036. 

U.C.1785. 

ZWraifed 
tcr>the 
throne. 
Zoe mar* 
rus Cou' 
fiantine 
Manama' 
chus, who 
is .leclared 
emperor* 



ASaniaees 
re*ooits^ 
but is mur 



defeated* 



The Cdnftantinopolitan Hiftory. 

altar to the forum, and th^re, in a mod crtiel manner^ de- 
prived them of fight. They were afterwards banifhed, with 
all their relatiins and adherents, Michael having enjoyed 
the fovereignty fcarce four months *. 

IJoe, finding herfelf once more veiled with the fovereignty, 
baniihedall the friends of the late tyrants, and recalled from 
exile fuch as had ferved her father and uncle, preferring them 
to the firft employments in the ftate and army. Among the 
reft Maniaces, was fent for to court, and appointed com- 
mander in chief of all the weftern forces. Zoe had fcarce 
feigned three months, when the people prefling her to marry, 
and by that expedient prevent the difturbances that might 
arife among competitors for the empire, {he recalled from 
baniihment Conftantine, furnamed Monomachus, a man 
of a noble extra£lion, and handfome perfon ; and having 
married him, caufed him to be crowned by the patriarch 
iivith the ufud folemnity. He had been baniihed, during 
the reign of Michael, to the ifland of Lefbos^and from thence 
removed, at the inftigation of John the eunuch, to Mitylene, 
where he was confined when fent for to court, and raifed to 
the empire. He no fooner faw himfelf invcfted with the 
imperial dignity, than he bani(hed the eunuch to the iiland 
ofLefbos; where, his^ eyes being pulled out by the empe- 
ror's order, he died foon after. In the very beginning of 
, Cooftantine's reign, Maniaces, refenting theill treatment 
be received from Sclerus» one of the emperor's chief favour- 
ites, revolted with the troops under his command, and af- 
fuming the imperial ornaments, paffed with his army into 
Bulgaria, where he was joined by the malecontents of that 
country. Conftamine difpatched Stephen Sebaftaphorus 
againfthim, at the head of a very numerous army; which, 
however, was defeated and put to flight by Maniaces at the 
firft attack. Maniaces did not reap the fruit of his vifkory, 
being flain a few days aft^rby a perfon unknown, who bad 
the good fortune to make his efcape. Upon his death, thofe 
who had been moft forward in the rebellion, were the firft 
who threw down their arms, and fubmitted to Stephen, the 
emperor's general, who, notwithftanding his defeat, was, on 
his return to Conftantindple, honoured with a triumph. 

At this junfture the Roffi, who had continued long 
quiet, appeared before Conftantinople with a powerful fleet ; 
}>ut being defeated by the emperor's navy in the ftreights, 
they were glad to renew the ancient alliance with the em- 
pire. Upon their retreat, the emperor marched in perfon 
into the Eaft, and recovered feveral cities, which the Sa- 



X Curopalatr Zonar. Ccdren. ibid. 



racens 



The Cdnjlantinopblitan ITtftory. txj 

racens had feized in th^ two late reigns. But while he 
was purfuing the war with great fuccefs, Leo Tornicius, Leo Tornu 
efcaping £rom a monaftcry to which he had been confined^ dusrewits 
aflumed the purple, and caufed himfelf to be prpclaimcd' r*if^f^'' 
emperor. Leo was a perfon of extraordifiary parts, and afSJf" '* 
nearly related to the emperor, by whom he bad been, out; 
of jealoufy, removed from his government of Iberia, and 
fliut up in a monaftery ; but having found means to make 
his efcape, he fled to Adriaqople, where he was received 
with loud acclamations by. the people, who had been lately 
offended by Monomach us., Being joined by great multi? 
tudes, who flocked to him from all parts, he advanced to * 

Con^antinople, and laid fiege to tKat metropolis, but meet^ 
ing, contrary to his expectation, with a vigorous oppofitioa 
froni the inhabitants, and feveral of his accomplices aban-r 
doning him, he raifed the flege, and retired to Arcadiopolisi Hi ratfii.y 
where he defended himfelf for fome time againft the forces. thtfiege^U 
the emperor had fent to reduce him ; but being at length ^dt'* dnf 
overpowered with numbers, he was taken, and fent in chains ^A^^ 
to Monomachus, who firft caufed his eyes to be pulled outf 
and then confined him to a remoteJfland. The rebellion 
being thus happily fupprefl!ed almoft in its birth, and th0 
Saracens in the £aft awed by the emperor's prefence, a pro-r 
found tranquility reigned, during the two following years, .^^ . -^ 
throughout the provinces. , \ 

In 1041 the Roman dominions were invaded by an ene- ^Theempirt 
my fcarce mentioned before in hiftory: but referved by ^V^i^i^ 
Providence for the total deftruftion of the empire, which '^^•''*'*' 
we fiiall fee them accomplifh four hundred year$ after this 
period^ arid put an end to the very name of a Roman empire. 
Thefe were the Turks, who, quitting their ancient habitar y,.-^ 

tions in the neighbourhood of Mount Caucafus, and paffing 
the Cafpian Streights, had fettled in Armenia Major, about 
the year 844. There they continued an unknown and defr 
picable people » till the wars of the iSara<:ens among themr 
felves afforded an opportunity of aggrandizing their nation. 
The Saracens having, with amazing fuccefs and rapidity^ 
fubdued Perfia, Affyria,. Egypt, Africa, and a confiderable 
part of Europe itfelf, divided their vaft fpreading dominions 
into feveral governments or principalities, which were ruled 
by their refpeftive fultans or commanders, who, in procef^ 
of time, quarrelling with one another, accelerated the ruii^ 
of the empire which they had fo fuccefsfuUy eftablifhed. 
About the year 1039 Mohammed, the fon of Sambrael, An account 
fultan of Perfia, not finding himfelf a match forPifaris^ cfthem^ 
fultan of Babylon, with whom he was at war, had recourfe 
to the TurkS) who iipnt him froip Armienia Major three 

I 3 thoufand 



\ 



ti9 



ne Tttrii 
^onquir 
Perjia un- 

duS of 
fix* 



TMngroK' 
ppt prQ" 






4 

The ConftantinopoUfan Hijoiy. 

Abufand of tlicir nationy under the cbninA df I'dllgirdlipk* 
Mohammed, (trengthened with this fupplj, gained ti com* 
glete viftory over the fultan of Babylon 5 ^t whtn the 
Turkd, to whom it ^as thiefly Owing, defired leave tb te- 
futn home, he refufed to comply with theit juft demand, 
being unwilling to part with them till he had ended th^ 
war in which he was engaged With the Indians. In confe* 
quence of this refnfal the Turks, withdrawitlg without his 
ionf^nt to the defert of Carbonitis, and feeing joined by 
fcveral difcontented Perfiaris, began to make fte^tient in-* 
rOads into the territories of the Saracens. Mohammed im» 
mediately difpatched an army of twenty thoiifand men 
againft them, who were furprifed in the night by Tarigro* 
lipix, and utterly defeated. The fame of this victory, and 
the immenfe booty which the Turks acquired, drew multi* 
tudes to them from jtll parts, of criminals, fugitive flaves, 
jind robbers ; infomiich that Tarigrolipix faw hlmfelf, in a 
Akott timeydt the head of fifty thoufand men. Mohammed^ 
(Enraged at the defeat df his forces, ordered the teh generals 
who had '€oMmarided them to be deprived of their fight, 
and at the fame time a new arnty to be raifed, which he 
headed in perfiDil; but as he was riding about ih the heat 
of the engagement to animate his meri, he fell from hU 
Horfe, and fooii after died. His deatth was ho fooner knowii 
than his men threw down th^ir arms, and fubmittthg to 
^itHgroWpi^, proclaimed him Iting of Pferfla *. 

This titik inbn^rch havitig firft otjehcd a paflage for liifi 
ddufitrymeh irtto that kingdqirn over tnfe Araxfes, which fe- 
paratesit fr6!ri Arhienia, made war upon Pifari^ of i^lfafiris, 
-fcaiif of Balbyldrij trhom he at length flew, and annexed hi^ 
domi^iens io his own. He then fent \\\$t nephew, Cutld- 
Mdfes or Giitliifritifes, againft the Arabians, btit he '^aS 
yafiquifh^d in a jyitched battle, and obliged to, take flielter 
ill Medijt, through which Stephen, the Roman governor, 
tJenyirig him a i^afTage, he pttt his troops to flight, took the 
governor himfelf prifoner, and, without any farther oppo- 
flticy^,. f(fached Brifcium on the confines of Perfia. wher^ 
he fold Stephen for a flave. Returning to Tangrolipii he 
e'xcufed, in (he bed manner be cotild,- the ill fuccefs of his 
cxpeViitiori, aequainting hiiri at the fdme time with his Vic-^ 
tbry oifcr the Romrans in Medb, and encouraging him to 
Invade that fertile countrt, \t^hich he faid might be eaCly 
Subdued, as it ^as inhabited by nonfe but women, meaning 
the Roman«. Tangrolipix did not then liften to his advice, 
Isif^g wholly intent on revenging the late defeat on the 



« Nicirph. Bryenh. Hb. i capi 3# 



Arsibians, 



The Cofi/iantm6poUtaH ^ifiary. I19 

Arabians^ againft wfaoifti he n^arched In perfqn, at flit^ tttad h^efiktid 
ttf a nametous arttiy j but being Mmftlf defeated by kbut *)> 'A/ if- 
w^rlike nation, he abahdbned all thoughts of rcducihg ^^^^"^^ 
thiem 5 and refleftrag oil what Cutlu««Mofe8 had told him, 
lie ferit AJan, his bVbth^r^s fon, furnamcd the Deaf, with 
an aritty of ttc^enty thoufand meh,to reduce Media ; whidb InvaJft 
Afan etrtei'ed, c'omihitting '^veiy-'wheVe dreadful ravages, ^^^'o, 
Biit b'dftg itt the eni driwn into ati ^Aibulh by the Roniati 
generals, he was cut oiF, with his ^h'oFc army. Tangrb- 
lipiz, rrot difcouraged at this misfortune, fent another arhiy 
into Media, ne^^ a feun'(ired*bhoiifa'n'd ffirong 5 who, after 
having ravaged the country without oppofition, the Romans 
Ihu'ttiil^ themfelves up in th'dr fortreffes, latd fiege to 
Artza, a place of great trade, and oh that account efteemed 
the riloft wealthy in thofe parts ; but not being able by any 
Other means to matter it, they fet fire to it, which in a fhort 
tittle reduced it to aflies. A hundred and fifty thoufandanfd 
up^ai^ds of the inhabitants are faid to have periflied, either 
by the fword or in the flames. 

After this exploit Abraham Halim, half-brother to Tan- 
grolipiic, who commanded the Turks, hfearing that the Ro- 
mans, reinforced with a body of troops under the comhiand 
of Liparites, governor of Iberia, had taken the field, march- 
ed againft them, and offered them battle 5 which they not 
declining, the two armies engaged with a fury hardly to be 
equalled. The vi&ory continued long doubtful, out at hdifittud 
length inclined^ to the Romans, who neverthelefs did not by thifU^ 
^hink it prudeht, as their general Liparites was taken prf- ^^ns. 
fbn^r, to purfue the fugitives. The emperor, greatly coir- 
cemed for the captivity of Liparites, difpatched ambafladors, 
with rich prefents, and a large fum, to redeem him, and 
at the fame time to conclude an alliance with Tangrd- 
iipix. The fultan received the pi'efents, but generoufly re- 
turned, with the ihoney, to Liparites, whom he releafed 
xWthout ranfom, only requiring him at his departure, neve!r 
riibre td bear arms againft the Turks. Not long after this 
eV6'nt Tartgr^oirpix fent a perfon of great authority among 
the Turks, with the chat-after of ambalTador, to Conftanti- 
hople, \vho having arrogantly exhorted the emperor tofub- 
mit t6 his Aiafter, and acknowlege himfelf his tributary, 
was, by Monomachus, difmiifed with fcorn, and driven 
out of the city. 

On his rfeturn he acquainted Tangrblipix with the recep- 
tion he had met with, who thereupon refolved to, renew 
the war. Monomachus, on the other hand, did not neg- 
lect the neceffary preparations to oppofii fo powerful an 
enemy ; but was diverted from it by a war, which fuddcnly 

I 4 broke 



« 

The Pat9t' 
naea break 
into the 
empire \ ' 



hut are 

Mtterfy 
rwtedt 



,\ % J •* 



Iberia hid 
nvafle by 
the Turks \ 
miho be- 
fiege Mant- 
%Hki$rta \ 



The QmfiantinopoUtafi Hiflmy. 

broke out between him and the Patzinacfe) si Scythian na-' 
tion, whofe king, named Tyrach^ highly provoked at the 
kind reception Kegenes, one of his rebellious fubjefts, had 
received from the Romans, paffed the Danube on the iccj 
and entering with eight hundred thoufand men the Roman 
provincesi ravaged them with fire and fword. Conftantine 
Arianites was difpatched againft them with all the troops 
quartered in Macedon and Dulgaria ; but he, not daring to 
venture an engagement^ fufFered them to ravage the coun- 
try without control, till great multitudes of them being 
.fweptoff by the diftempers^hich raged in their army, he 
was advifed by Kegenes, who joined him with twenty 
thoufand men, to ts^ke them by furprize ; which fcheme he 
executed with fo much refolution, that the Barbarians^ 
weakened by ficknefs, and terrified at fo fudden an attack^ 
threw down "thejr arms and fubmitted. Great numbers 
were allowed to fettle at Sardica, Naifius^ Eutzapolis^ and 
in other cities of Bulgaria ; fome returned to their own 
country \ but Tyrach, and a hundred and forty of the moft 
,noble among them, were fent. to Conftantinople, where 
they were kindly received by the emperor ; and, upon their 
embracing the Chriftian religion, as Kegenes had done be- 
.fore, with all his ^followers, they were entertained in a 
manner fuitable.to their rank, and even raifed to confider- 
abje emplpyments. However, the emperor having detach- 
ed fifteen thoufand of thofe who had fettled in Bulgariaj 
-under the condufl: of Catalunes, one. of their own officers, 
to reinforce the army in Iberia, they revolted on their 
march, and being joined by great numbers of their coun- 
trymen, encamped on the banks of the Danube, from 
^whence they made frequent incurfions into the Roman ter- 
ritories. The. emperor fent fome of his beft generals againft 
jhem, but was not able to fupprefs them, bis forces being, 
%n three fucceflive Engagements, defeated. Having at length 
refolved to employ the whole ftrength of the empire againft 
them, they were fo terrified at the report of the prepara- 
tions the emperor was making, that they fued for peace, 
y^hich was granted them for thirty years **. 

During this war, Tangrolipix entered Iberia, and having 
defol^ted the country far and near, returned from thence 
into Media, and befieged Mantzichierta, a plaice defended 
by a numerous garrifon,* and fortified with a triple wall 
.arid deep ditches. As it was fituated in a plain and open 
country, he hoped to be matter of !«• in a (hort time j but 
Jfinding, after he had continued before it thirty days, that 



V Niceph. Bryeun^ Cutopal. Cedren* 2onar* in Monom. 



the 



The Confiantinopolttan Hjjlory. 12,1 

the befieged were refolved to defend thcmfelves to the Jafl: 
extremity, defpairing of fuccefs, he refolved to raife the 
fiege, when Alcan, one of his chief officers, prevailed up;, 
on him to continue it but one day longer, and to commit 
the conduf): and management of the attacks to him. Thus > 

impowered, he next day difpofed his men with fuch flcill, 
and encouraged them by his example to fight with fo muc|i 
bravery and refolution, that, notwithftanding the vigorous 
oppofition they met with, the place would, in all likeli- 
hood, have been . taken, had not Alcan been flairi, while . 
mounting the wall. The befieged, knowing him By' the ^. 
richnefs of his armour, drew him by the hair into the city, 
and cutting off his head, threw it over the wall amongft 
the eaemy ; who, diflieartened at that fight, gave over the hut art 
affault, and retired, Tangrolipix pretending fome urgent Z*''^'''^* * 
affair had called him home. ^ ^ r«/#/^ 

Hov^ever, he returned the fpring following, and' ravaged '' 
Iberia, fparing neither fex nor age. But upon the approach 
of Michael Acoluthus, who oppofed him, at the head of a 
confiderable army, he retired to Tauris, leaving thirty thou- 
fand men behind, to infeft the frontiers of the empire, 
which, through the avarice of Monomachus, were left un- 
guarded*. About this time died the emprefs Zoe, and her Thtimm.. 
death was foon followed by that of the emperor him- prefiZti 
felf. Though he had always exprefled a great efteem and ^^ 
regard for Theodora, the fitter of Zoe, yet he was prevailed 
upon by the eunuchs at court to name Nicephorus for his 
fucceflbr, who commanded the forces in Bulgaria. But 
Theodora, informed by her friends at court of the empe- 
ror's intention, privately withdrew from the monaftery of Yr. of FI. 
St. George, whither (he had attended him ; and returning 339S. 
to Conftantinople, with her moft faithful friends, cajufed ^^- *'^49* 
herfelf to be proclaimed, and faluted emprefs ; a circum- ''^^^^ 
ftance which gave Monomachus fo much concern, that he afuiM§~ 
died foon after, having reigned twelve years and eight mackug* 
months. 

Theodora no fooner received intelligence of his death ^hiodor^ 
than flie caufed all thofe to be fecured who had propofed , 
the promotion of Nicephorus ; and depriving them of their 
employments, appointed others in their room, in whom 
flie thought (he could confide. Theodorus the eunuch was 
fcnt, at the head of a confiderable army, into the Eaft, to 
awe the Turks, who, hearing of the emperor's death, were 
preparing to renew the war. He prevented, with great 
care and vigilance, the enemy from making inroads into 

c Micephf iBryenn* cap, ^. Corop, ibid. 

the 



122 the ConfianiimpoUtan Hijlwy^ 

iht Homan territories ; fo that the' eaftern provinces eh« 
jbyed, during Theodora's (hort reign^. a profound tranquil* 
Hit tx* lity, to which they had been long Hrangers* Her prticlent 
€tiiimtg§' choice of the great oificers and minifters of ftale, her ihi- 
numminL partial adminiftration of jufticei and her great moderatioti 
m the ulb of the authority with which flie was veftcd, Min- 
ed her the affcAiohs ot her pebpie, and the refpe^T and 
efteem of all foreign nations. DUt the empire did not lon|r 
enjoy the many bleiTings that attended her adminiftratlon ; 
Yr. of Fl. for, in the fecond year of her reign, (he was feized with a 
3400. violent piin ih her bowels, which in a few days deprived 
u"?* ^to^' ^^^ ^^ Before flie died, (he was perfuaded by Leo 

' ' Strabofpondylus, her prime minider, and her favourite 

Her diatk. t^unuch, to bequeath the empire to Michael Stratioticus, a 
perfon advahced in years> and altogether ign6rant of (latid* 
affairs, a circumftance which chiefly recommended tiim to 
the eunuchis, who hoped to govern in his name with abfo- 
lute power. Theodora died, loon after fhe had liamei him, 
in the month of Augull 105 1, having reigned one year and 
nine months. 
Michael The death of Theodora, and promotion of Michael, 

StrathtS' iXrhich had been managed with the utmoft fecrefy,* being 
^«* knb^^n it thie fame time, Theodorus, couGn-germah to tht 

dectSafed emperor, claiming the empire, as of right be- 
longing to him, protefted againft what had been iont id 
favour of Michael; and fummoning all his friends, &r« 
viht^, and dependents, moved in the evening with a great 
ti*ain through th6 moft frequented ftreets to the palace ; but 
finding the gateis fiiut and ftrongly guarded, he proceeded 
to the gredt church, not doubting; but he (hould be well 
, received by the patriarch and the clergy. But they rtfuf- 
itig to admit him, he had recourfe to the people, wno, un- 
. - - flipved by his offers and promifes, continued firm in the 
reifolutioh they had taken a few hours before to fupport 
Michadl. Theodorus, how convinced he dould not fiicceeci 
in his attempt, and dreading the refentment of the crape- 
Jrehellion toty denounced all claim to the imperial dignity, and took 
/upfrijed* tfcfuge with his fpn in the church j bu^ he was foon dragged 
froth thence by the emperor's orders, and baniihed to-rer- 
gamus, whfere he died Tome years after. 

The rebellion being fupprefled, Michael enjoyed the im- 

jj^rial dignity without a competitor, but foon appeared al- 

tdgt^th^r unequal to his fituation. As he was an entire 

ftranger to rtate-afFairs, he fuffered the eunuchs, to whom 

w!iS!the ^^ ^^^ indebted for his promotion, to govern without con- 

^^enrf ^^o^' ^^ ^^!?^^ inftigaiion he oflfend^d nioft of the general 

the arpy* officers of the army, whom he ought to have regarded as 

his 



^t}e Cohjantinopotitan Htftory^ t4| 

his chief fupport, and among the reft tfaac Comnenusi and 
Ambuftus Catacale, men renowned for their eminent fer- 
vices and expcrienccfc The former he deprived of his cqm* 
maiid in the army^ and the ktter he removed from thf 
government of Antiochj recalling JBryennius^ a man of a 
turbulent and reftlefs fpirit, who had been baniflied by 
l^heodoray and appointing him commander in chief of the 
eaflern forces. Bryexmius, upon his return to court, peti- ' 
tioned the emperor for his eftate, which bad been C0nfif« 
cated in the late reign, but met with apoiitive denial) which 
provoked him to fuch a degree, that he refolved to revolt^ 
and employ the forces under his command againft the per^ 
fon by whom that command had been beftowed* Having Si^er^of 
imparted his deCgn to Ambuftus, Comnenus^ and fever^ thimc^n^ 
pthersj who had been difgufted by Michael, they all meij^ y>'f' «• . 
in order to proceed to the eleftion of a new emperor, when* ^*^ ^"•' 
by the unanimous confent of the whole party, Ambuftu$ 
was chofen ; but he declining the burden on account of his 
age, Ifaac Comnenus was propofed next, as a perfon in 
every refpeft well qualified for fo great a truft. As the 
propofal was received with great applaufe, Comnenus di4 
not oppofe it, but fufFered the confpirators to take an oath 
oF allegiance to him, promifing at the fame time to govern 
%ith juftice and moderation. After this ceremony, thby' 
departed from Conftantinople, where they had afTembledy 
according to cuftotn, at £after, and repaired to their feveral 
pofts, where each of them was, in his xefpeftive ftation, to 
l^romote the general defign. Bryennius haftened to the 
army in the Eaft ; but, difagreeing with John Opfaras, % 
patrician, whom the emperor had appointed to diftribute a 
bounty among the foldiers, the quarrel was carried to fuch 
a height, that Bryennius, in denance of the emperor's ov- « 
ders, committed Opfaras to cuftody, after having caufed 
him to be publicly . fcourged with rods. Lycanthes, who 
commanded in that neighbourhood a ftrong body of Lycao- 
nians and Pifidians, concluding that Bryennius defigned tp Yr. of FL 
revolt, attacked him in his camp; and, having taken him 34os« 
prifoneri delivered him to Opfaras, by whofe orders he was ^'j?* '?53« 
deprived of fight. The officers of the Eaft, informed of his ^'^' ^^** 
misfortune, and apprehending he might, upon examine- jr^^ q^^^^ 
tiouj reveal their defigns (for he was fent in ehains to thi; wnusfa^ 
emperor), refolved openly to declare theinfelves i and ao luted em^ 
cordingly, having aifembled in a fpacious plain, all tte t^or. 
forces uhder their command, they fent for Comnenus, who 
was then at his houfe in t^aphlagonia, and prefented bt^ 
p the imperial rob^s to the foldieiji by whom he was, with 

univer* 



124 7%^ ConftantinopoUtan Hiflory^ 

univerfal confent, faluted emperor on the eighth of June^ 

- • ComnenuS) thus raifed to the imperial dignity, aflumed 
the command of the army, with which he immediately 
faiarched over the river Sangarius iii Phrygia Major, di- 
refting his route towards Nice, which he furprifed, moft 
of the foldiers who garrifoned it being retired to their. 
An armf own homes. In the mean time Stratioticus, receiving 
fintmgmi^ news of the revolt, aflembled all the forces quartered id 
^'•1 the Weft; and, having muftered his army, chofe for his 

generals Theodorus the eunuch, and Aaron Ducas, an offi- 
cer of great experience, and brother to the wife of Comne- 
nus. The two generals marched at the head of their army 
'« to Nicomedia, and from thence to Nice, in the* neighbour- 
hood of which city they found Comnenus Encamped. Upoii 
their approach, he drew up his army, Ambuftus having the 
comn^and of the left wing, Romanus Sclerus of the right, 
and Comnenus himfelf of the main body. The emperor's 
generals accepted the challenge, and the two armies engag- 
ed with great refolution and intrepidity. At firft Aaron, 
who commanded the left wing of the imperial army, broke 
the oppofite wing of the enemy, took Romanus himfelf 
prifoner, and punned the fugitives to their camp. But 
Ambuftus, on the other fide, bearing all down before him| 
t>ierced into the enemy's camp, which he took and plun- 
dered ; and then charging with frefh vigour the emperor's 
left wing, obliged them to retire in fome confufion. In 
n»}a<h is their retreat they were attacked by Comnenus, and eafilj 
defeated hj ^^^ ^^ flight ; a circumftance which fo difcouraged the reft 
Comni9us» £bf the emperor's troops, that, throwing away their armsi 
tlWy fled in great diforder. 

» Comnenus, having gained a complete viftory, began hi5 
-march to Conftantinople, not doubting but the citizens 
'Would open their gates to him, as foon as he appeared be- 
fore them. In the mean time Ctratioticus, informed of the 
overthrow of his forces, fent fome of the chief men in the 
fenate to Comnenus, with propofals for an agreement, which 
wai concluded on the following terms: that Comnenu^ 
ihould be declared Csefar; that a full pardon (hould be 
granted to all Ws followers ; and that thofe who enjoyed 

• -employments Ihould be continued in them, and confirmed 
by thfe' emperor. '^ 'But this agreement was made void by thfe 
-emperbt himfelf fdon- after he had ratified it ; for, at the 

• inftigation of his courtiers, he obliged^ partly by promife$, 
•fi^ttly by menaces,* the* fenate and people to bind thent- 

fclirds-by a- moft'folemn' oath never to give Comnenus tfe 



^he Con/tantinopoliian Hiflory. 



12$ 



title of emperor, nor own him for their foverelgn. This 
oath was exafled when Cortinenus was in Afia; but intel- 
ligence was no fooner brought that he was within a day*s 
march of Conftantinopky than he was, by a decree of the 
fenate, and the unanimous confent of the people, pro- 
claimed emperor, and all thofe, who (hould oppofe him, 
adjudged enemies to their country. The decree being 
paffed in the fenatc without oppoiition, the patriarch di£ 
patched meflengers to Comnenus, inviting him to the city, 
and at the fame time fent fome bifhops to Stratioticus, stratioti^ 
commanding him in the name of the fenate and people to cusfirad 
i^Ggn the imperial dignity, and quit the palace. '^ ^ifign. 

Comnenus arrived that evening, and was next day, the Yr, of Fl, 
firft of September, 1055, crowned in the great church by 3404« 
the patriarch Michael Cerularius **. The emperor's firft u'c'^g^^* 
care was to reward thofe, to whom he was chiefly indebted *,' ^^* 
for his promotion, and above all the patriarch, whofe ne- jj^ac Com^ 
phews and relations he preferred to the firft employments mnus 
m the ftate. As he was well fk^lled in military affairs, and tr9wned 
had given fignal proofs of his courage and reiolution, the ^*^^* 
neighbouring Barbarians continued quiet during his (hort 
reign« At home he was more dreaded, on account of his 
feverity, than beloved. As he found the treafury quite 
drained, he loaded the people with heavy taxes, and at \ 

length fell upQn the monafteries, depriving them of the 
immenfe wealth with which they had been enriched by his 
predeceflbrs- This condu£k the patriarch highly refented, 
and with great arrogance threatened to pull him down from 
the throne to which he had raifed him, unlefs he reftored 
to the churches the eftates which he had unjuftly feized. 
But the emperor, inftead of yielding to his threats, imme- Hthantjbn 
diately baniflied him, and raifed Conftantine Lichudes to thetatri- . 
Ae patriarchal fee ^ in his r6om. Ifaac had not reigned ^'** 
above two years, when he was feized with a violent dif- 
tcmper, occafioned, as fome authors pretend, by a flafli of 
lightning. Being fenfible that his end approached, and 
at the fame time touched with remorfe in reflefting by 
^hat means he had obtained the imperial dignity, he vo- 
luntarily refigned it, and retiring to a monaftery, (pent the 
remainder of his days* in exercifes of piety, having reigned • 
only two years and three months; 

Being advifed, before he refigned, to choofe a fucceflbr, Yr, of tU 
though he had feveral children and near relations, yet pre- 3406. 
fcrringthe public good to his private intereft,lxe nominated A.D,io57» 
Conftantine Ducas, a pcrfon generally efteemed the beft U^C^iSo6, 

^Cdrppalati CMren. Zonar. in Stratiot« & Ifaac Comn. 

qualified 



%z6 ^^^ CmfianHnopolitaH H0<ny^ 

Hi refigns <ju^li6ed in the whole ^inpire for fo eminent a ftation. Du- 
thi mpin cas, thus chofen by ComnenuSi and received by the fenate 
u C^mftan- and people, was crowned with the uTual folemnity by the 
timi Dmcos. patriarch. He applied binifelf with great diligence to the 
affairs of the ftatei adminiilered juftice with the utmoft im» 
partial rtyj reformed feveral abufes which had prevailed under 
his predecefibrsi and behaved on all occafions with fuch 
moderation^ that he might have been reckoned amongft the 
beft of princes, had not his infatiable avarice obfcured in a 
manner all bis good qualities. He chofe rather to leave ihe 
frontiers naked and unguarded, than to maintain the ne- 
cefiary garrifons ; a negle£l which encouraged the Turks 
The Vzi' to extend their conqueils on all (ides, and the Uzians, a 
tfffi ifMffdi Scythian nation, to pafs the Danube to the number of five 
Mimpini hundred thoufarid men, and ravage the neighbouring coun- 
tries. Nicephorus Boteniates> afterwards emperor, and Ba- 
filius ApocapeJ, were fent ag^inft them. But the Barba- 
rians having defeated the emperor's forces, and taken both 
the generals i^ the purfuit> defolated Thrace and Macedon ; 
and, penetrating without pppofition into Greece^ ravaged 
it with fire and fword. The emperor, aifefted with the ca- 
lamities of his fubje£ls, but unwilling to be at the charge of 
raifing the neceflary forces to deliver them from the op- 
predion under which they groaned, endeavoured to pur- 
chafe a peace with rich prefents, and ev^n by promifing 
to pay an anni^al tribute. To fuch meannefs was the em- 
peror brought by his fordid temper. But the Barbarians 
reje£ling his terms, he ordered a general faft to be obferved 
throughout his dominions, and then marched againft them 
with a handful of men. 
hii art cut In the mean time the enemy being greatly weakened by 
iffythe a plague that reigned among them, the riungari or Hunga- 
HuHgan- fians, whofe country they had ravaged* fell unexpedledly 
upon them, and made terrible havock. Nothing elfe bap^ 
pened, during this inaftive prince's reign, which authors 
,have thought worth tranfmitting to pofterity, except a 
dreadful earthquake, which overturned feveral (lately edi- 
fices at Conftantinople ; and the appearance of a comet, 
which was feen for fort^y days together, and thought to por- 
Tr. of FI. ^"^ ^^ enxperor's approaching fate. Indeed Qondantine 
3411. was foon after feized with a violent diftemper, which in a 
A.D. 1063. fi^^ days terminated his life. He left the empire to his 
UC iSift. three fons, Michael, Andronicu^, and Conftantine ; but a« 
c 1' ^^^y ^^^^ y^^ ^^^y young, he appointed the emprefs Eu- 
SwaiJes. docia, their mother, regent during their minority, after 
having exafted^of her an oath never to marry, which was 

lodged with great ^lempity in the baud^ Qf the pAtd^ch. 

He 



Tbje Confimtimpolitati Hifiory. ifi 

Hciikewife obliged the fcnators folemnly to iVear, tliat 
th^y would acknowlege none for their fove reign but his 
three fons. Having thus fecuredy as he thought^ the im- 
perial crown to his faAiily, he died in 1063, after havinj^ 
reigned five years and fix months *. He was no fooher ^^ Turh 
dead than the Turks, hearing the empire was governed by in'vaJe tkt 
a woman, broke with great violence Into Mefopotamia, Ci- imfirim 
licia, and Cappadocia., The cmprefs was not in a condition 
to oppofe them, the greater part of the army having been 
diibanded in her hufband's life-time, and the troops, tha( . 
were ftiU on foot, being undifcipHned, and altogether unfit 
for fervice. This misrortune was aggravated by the fedi- 
tious fpeeches of a difcontented party at home, repeating ia 
all aflembliesy that the prefent ftate of the empire required 
a man of courage and addrefs at the helm, inftead of a 
weak and helplefs woman. As they imagined the emprefi^ 
would never think of marrying, in violation of the path (he 
had taken, they hoped to induce the people to revolt, and 
choofe a new emperor. Eudocia was aware of their fenti- 
ments ; therefore, to prevent the evils thgt threatened her * 
and her family, flie refolved to efpoufe fome perfon of merit, 
capable of defeating the defigns of her enemies both at 
home and abroad. 

At this time Romanus Diogenes, a perfon of a mofl Romamtt 
beautiful afpefby extraordinary parts, and an illuftrious Diogaieu 
birth (for he was defcended from the emperor Romanus 
Argyrus), being accufed of afpiring to the empire, tried 
^nd convifted, was brought before Eudocia to receive the 
fentence of death, which his ambition had deferved. But 
the emprefs, touched with compaffion at the appearance of 
the unhappy prifoner, who, flie thought, deferved a better 
fate, having gently upbraided him for his revolt, granted 
him a free pardon, and foon after appointed him com- 
mander in chief of all her forces ; in which ftation he ac- 
quitted himfelf fo well, that the emprefs refolved to marry 
him, if flie could but recover the writing, in which her oath 
WitB contained, out of the hands of the patriarch. With 
this view, (he applied herfelf to a favourite eunuch, who 
going to the patriarch, told John Xiphiline that the emprefs 
was 10 enamoured with his nephew Bardas, that flie was 
determined to marry him, and raife him to the empire, 
provided he abfolved her from the oath fiie had lately taken, 
^d convinced the fenate of the lawfulnefs of fuch a mar- 
rifige. The patriarch, though a man of great probity and 
learning, yet, dazzled with the profpefl of his nephew's 

e Curopalati & Niceph. Bryenn. 

promotion^ - 



1^8 ^^^ Conjtantlnopolltan Hijlofy. 

promotioh, readily undertook to perforin both ; accord- 
ingly, having firit obtained the content of the fenate, by re- 
prefentlng the dangerous condition of the empire, and ex- 
claiming again ft the rafli oath, 'which the jealoufy of the 
late emperor had extorted, he publicly difcharged the em- 
pcefs from the obfervance of it, reftored the writmg, and 
exhorted her to marry fome deferving perfon, who, bei|ig 
cntrufted with an abfolute authority, might proteft her and 
her children, and defend the empire againft the many ene- 
mies who threatened it, and were not to be repreffed by the 
hands of a weak woman, or awed by three young children* 
7*# iM' The emprefs, thus abfolved of her oath, married a few 

frefsmar- j^y^ after, to the great 4ifappointment of the patriarch, Ro- 
^^*^' ' man us Diogenes, who was^ immediately proclaimed empe- 
ror. As he was a man of great aftivity and experience, he 
no footer faw himfelf vetted with the fovereign power than, 
Ilefaffes taking upon him the command of the army, he paffed over 
9ver into ^^^^ \£i^ with the few forces he could aflemble, recruiting 
'^' and inuring them on his march to military difcipline, which 

had been altogether neglefted in the preceding reigns. 
Upon his arrival in Afia, he was informed that the Turks, 
having furprifed and plundered the city of Neocaefarea, 
were retiring with a rich booty. Hereupon, purfuing them 
at the head of a chofen body of light-armed troops, he over- 
took them the third day j and falling upon them, while they 
were marching in diforder, without the leaft apprehenfion 
of an enemy, cut great numbers in pieces, and recovered 
the booty. He then purfued his march to Aleppo, which 
he retook, together with Hierapolis, where he built a ftrong 
cattle. 

As he was returning to join the forces he had left behind 
him, he was oppofed by a numerous body of Turks, who 
His /uccefs attempted to cut offliis retreat ; but the emperor, pretend- 
4if(aififl the ing at firft through fear to decline an engagement, attacked 
^urks. them afterwards, when they leaft expefted it, with fuch vi- 
gour, that he repulfed them at the firft onfet, and might 
have gained a complete viftory, had he thought it prudent 
to purfue them. After this exploit, feveral towns fubmitted, 
the Turks abandoning them upon the firft news of his ap- 
proach. But winter approaching, he retired to Cilicia, and 
trom thence to Conftantinople. The followingyear he vi- 
iited Afia early in the fpring ; and being informed that the 
Turks having defeated Philaretus, who had been left to 
guard the banks of the Euphrates, had advanced into Cili- 
cia', and furprifed and facked Iconium, the mott rich and 
populous city of that province, he marched in perfon againft 
them. But the Turks retired in great hafte. IJowever, 

the 



The ConfimtimpaUm Hi/imy* j2p 

the Armenians, encouraged by the approach of the empe* 
Xor'$ armyai ^ttaicked the enemy in the plaips of Taifus* put 
them to flight, a^d dripped tbemboth of their baggage and 
the booty they had taken. The emperor paiTed the re- 
inaininjr part of the ffimmer in fettling the afiairs of the 
proving; and upon the approach of winter, returned once 
jBCKorc to Conftantinople, which he entered in triunaphy 
fimidft the acclamations of the people. The fpring follow** 
ing, the emperor marched again into Afia, at the fa^d of a 
coafiderabl^ army, which he had raifed, and with incredible 
pains difciplined, during the winter. As the Turks had al- 
ready taken the field, feveral ikirmiflies happened between 
the parties detached from the two armies> in one of whijcfa 
Niccphorus Bafilacius, one of the emperor's chief officers^ 
uras taken prifoner, and carried to Axan, the Tu^ikifli ful-* 
tan, 9nd fon of the celebrated Tangrolipix, who received 
and entertainted him with great civility. When the two 
armies approached, the fultan, obferving the difpofition and 
number of .the emperor's forces, and dreading, as he was 
9 maja of great experience and fagacity, the uncertain iffue 
x>f war, fent ambafladors to Romanus, with propofals for a 
laAtng and honourable peace, which being rejected by the Hi rejiSs 
$jQ9|:^ror with difdain, both armies prepared for an engage- thepropo- 
meat. Though the empero/s troops were not near fo nu^ ^ ^^^ 
jmexQUS as ithofe of the .enemy, Rufelius, one of his beijb ^ ^* 
commanders, having been detached with a confiderable 
body, yet Eo^ianus, preiiuming upon the course of his 
^eny and the fuccefs that had hitherto aJttended his arms, 
.ordeced the fignal to he given, ^uid falling with great fury 
Mpon the /enemy, put them into fbme diforder. However^ 
ihey ioon rallied, and char>ge;d with freih vigour ; fo that 
^he .difpute continued with various fuccefs, till the empe* 
for, fearing the fultan (hould fend part of his army to at- 
tack hiis camp^ which he had left weakly guarded, caufed, 
towards :^he dofe of day, a Retreat to be founded^ and 
retired in good order with that part of the army which he 
commanded in perfon : but Andronicus, the fon of Joh^ 
£)ucaf, brother to. the late emperor Conftantine, and in hi^ 
heart ^n .enemy to Romanus, whofe good ^fortune he en* 
^ied, ^xcUimed, that. the emperor was routed \ and at the 
Jkmetimei^uming his horfe, fled with great precipitationto 
fthe camp. Th^ reft of the army followed his example, and 
:firem pu^fuod by the Turks, who in the ^onfufion put great 
/!\un)bers to the :fword. The emperor did all that lay in hi^ 
ipower to make them^raUy, and face the enemy ; but, notwithr 
jtaaadinghts utmoft efforts, they^ continued their flight, .every 
:i»ne Aiiftins £orhimfd!fin the beit maunei he coiud. The 
. Voii.Zv. K emperor^ 



130 

He is di- 
Jeattdf and 
taken pri» 
finer \ 



but kindly 
entertain'- 
#</, andfet 
at liberty 
by thefuU 



tan. 



Michfttl 
Ducas pro* 
elaimed 

emperor^ 



Yr. of Fl. 
34.16. 

y.c. 1816. 

Romanus 

dies, <* 



^e Confiantinopolitan Hijiorj. 

emperor, though forfaken by his army, ftood his grouncf^ 
till himfelf being wounded, and his horfe killed under him^ 
he was at length overpowered with numbers, and taken 
prifoner. When news were fir ft brought to the fultan of 
his captivity, h^ could hardly give credit to it ; but being 
irtfui'ed of the truth, both by the ambafladors, whoff he had 
fent before the battle, and by Bafilacius, his captive, he or- 
dered the emperor to be brought before him» and tenderly 
embracing him, ** Grieve not, noble emperor (faid he), at 
your misfortune ; for fuch is the chance of war, fometimes 
overwhelming one, and fometimes another ; you fhall have 
no occafion to complain of your captivity; for I will not 
ufe you as my prifoner, but as an emperor :'' a promife 
which he performed accordingly, lodging him in a royal 
pavilion, afligning him attendants, with an equipage fuit- 
able to his quality, and difcharging fuch prifoners as he de^ 
fired. After he had entertained for fome days his royal 
captive with extraordinary magnificence, a perpetual peace 
was concluded between them, and the emperor difmifled 
with the greateft marks of honour imaginable. Being thus 
releafed, he proceeded, attended by the fultan's ambafra" 
dors, for Conftantinople, where the peace was to be rati- 
fied. He halted at Theodofiopolis, and continued fome 
days there to have his wounds dreifed, with a defign to 
purfue his journey to the imperial city, as foon as be was 
:able to travel ; but in the mean time he was informed, 
that John, the brother of Couftantine Ducas, with Pfellus, 
a leading man in the fenate, and feveral others, having, 
upon intelligence of his captivity, driven Eudocia from the 
throne, and fhut her up in a monaftery, had proclaimed 
her eldeft fon Michael Ducas emperor. Upon this infor- 
mation he left Theodofiopolis, and repairing to a ftrong 
caftle called Docia, fortified himfelf, not doubting that he 
fiiould be foon joined by his friends, and by great numbers 
of the officers- and foldiers, who had ferved under him ; 
but in th^ mean time John, who a£bed as guardian to the 
young prince, and governed with' an abfolute fway, dif- 
patched his eldeft fon Andronicus againft him with a ftrong 
body of troops, who, having defeated the fmall army under 
the unfortunate prince, purfued him to Adana, a city in 
Cilicia, where he was clofely befieged, and forced to fur- 
render. Andronicus carried his prifoner into Phrygia, where 
he fell dangeroufly ill, being, as was fufpeSed, fecretly 
poifoned- The poifon being too fiov^ in its operation, 
John ordered hi^ eyestb be pulled out, an operation which 
.w.as performed with fuch cruelty, that he died foon after 
in the.iiland Piota, to which he had been confinedj having 

reigned 



The ConfianHnopoUtan Hiftory. 131 

reigned three ^cars and eight mqnths^ Romanus Diogenes 
being removed, Michael Ducas was univerfally acknow- Miekagl 
leged emperor ; but he being an indolent and ina£tive Ducau 
prince, the whole power was lodged in John, his uncle^ who 
preferred fuch only as had been inftrumental in the late re- 
volutioi^ and, under various pretences, bauifhed thofe who 
gave him the leafl umbrage. 

In the mean time Axan, the Turkifli fultan, hearing of TheTurh 
the unhappy end of the late emperor, refolved to revenge i''*^^/^* '^' 
the death of his friend and ally : accordingly, having raifed '^r'^'* 
a powerful army, he invaded the territories of the empire, 
not with a deiign only to fpoil and plunder, as formerly, 
but to conquer, and hold what he fhould conquer. The 
emperor, alarmed at the motions of the Turks, difpatched 
Ifaac Comnenus, fon to the late emperor of that name* 
againft them, who gained at firfl: fome advantages over 
them^ but having foon after hazarded a general engage- 
ment, his army was, after a long and ohflinate difpute, to- 
tally defeated, and himfelf taken prifoner. Another army Defeat thg 
was foon fent againft them, under the command of John empgrorU 
Ducas, the emperor's uncle, who gained feveral advantages ^^^J* 
over the enemy, and would, in all likelihood, have re* 
ftrained their farther conquefts, had he not been diverted by 
Rufelius, or Urfelius,, a native of Gaul, who, revolting With 
the troops of his own nation under -his command, reduced 
feveral cities in Phrygia and Cappadocla, caufing himfelf in 
everyplace to be proclaimed emperor. John marched againft 
him with all his forces, fufFering the Turks in the mean 
time to porfue their conquefls ; but, coming to an engage- 
ment with the rebels on the banks of the Sangarius, he was 
totally defeated, and taken prifoner. 

Notwithftanding this viftory, Rufelius, to flop the pro- Gaind 
grcfs of the Turks, who threatened the empire with deftruc- fecond 
tion, not only releafed his prifoner, but joined him againft *v'f^oiy. 
the common enemy, by whom they were both vanquifhed, 
and taken prifoners. However, Axan was for fome time 
prevented from purfuing his conquefts, and reaping the fruit 
of his viftory, by Cutlu-Mofes, coufin to the late fultan 
' Tangrolipix, from whom he had revolted ; but, being de- 
feated in a pitched battle, he had taken r/Cfuge in Arabia, 
whence he now returned, at the head of a cbnGderable arniy ; 
and, laying claim to the fovereignty, was preparing to de* 
cidc |he controverfy by force of arms. While the two ar- 
J^^es were ready to engage, the kalif of Babylon, who had 
been deprived of his temporal jurifdiftion by Tangrolipix, 

' Niceph. Bryenn. cap. 2—10. Curopalat. in Rom. Diog. 

K 2 but 



1^2 Th Cmfiantinoptilitan Htftoty. 

but ftill continued to exercife his authority In matters of re- 
ligion, being revere^ as the fucctflbr of tneir great prophet, 
interpofed ; and by reprefenting the dangers to which their 
hiteftinc diflenfions cxpofed them, brought them to thia 
agreement : that Axan fliould enjoy undifturbed jhe mo* 
faarchy lately erefted by his fathel* Tangtolipix ; and that 
Cutlu-Mofes, and his family, fliould quietly poflefs fuch 
provinces of the empire as he or his Tons Ihould, in procefs 
oftimej fiibdue. 
The pro- This agreement being made, Cutlu-Mofes turned all his 

grefsofthi forces agamft the empire; and, being affifted by Axan, ra^adc 
^^ ^* himftlf, in this and the following reign, maflrer of all Me- 
dia, Lycaonia, Cappadocia, and Bithynia, fixing the feat of 
, his new empire at Nice, in the latter province. While the 
Turks welt; engaged in reducing the above mentioned pro* 
VinceS, Rnfelius, who had been ranfomed by hrs wife, and, 
notwith (landing his late revolt, reftored to favour, and en- 
trufted with a confiderable command in Afia Minor, re- 
RufiUus Volted again ; and, depending upon the affiftance of th^ 
riv»its. Turks, with whom he had privately entered into an aUiance, 
was proclaimed emperor. Michael fent the beft commamktis 
in the empire againft him ; but they were all fucceflively 
overcome in the feveral battles that were fought, Rufelius 
bring poweifully fupported by the Turks, whofe intereft it 
Va§ to hw and maintain divifions in the empire. At lerngth 
Vhe emperor was advifed to fend Alexius'Comnenus againft 
liim, he being efteemed, though then very young, a man 
'of uncommon addrefs, and well flcilled in the art of war. 
Alexius, by intercepting the enemies provificms, and coft^^ 
ftatitly harafling them on their marches, without ever corft* 
ing to aflion, reduced them in a fhort time to fuch diftrefs, 
that they were forced to take refuge in the dominions of the 
fultan, where they were kindly entertained, and fupplied 
with neceffaries at the public expence. But Aleiitts apply- 
ing to Tutach, the Turki'fh commander in thofe parts, prc^ 
vailed upon him with a large fum to feite on Rufelius, and 
ifend him in chains to Amafia, whence he was conveyed to 
Jke tehiU Conftantrnople. The rebels, deftitute of a leader, foon fub- 
treS^d'hj ^i^^^^j 2ind furtendefed thecrtres and fortrefles which they 
Ale^^^ius h^d reduced. The civil war being finifticd, Alexius it- 
Comnenus. turned to the imperial city, which he found grealSy drffaftJt 
fied with the emperor*s conduft, and grievottfly ^fi^tfied 
with a famine, during which the emperor, inftcaid t)f re- 
lieving the diftfcfled inhabitants, bad 'leffetied 'the meafore 
of corn, which defervedly procured him the nick-name of 
Parapanaces. The averfion which people of alt ranks had 
to the emperor on account of his avaricious temper^ encou* 

raged 



The Qmjlantinopolitan Hifiary. 13 j 

r 

raged i^icephorus Botonigtes, who commanded the forces Yr. of F}. 
in Afia, to enter into an alliance with the Turks, upon 34*3- 
whom he had been commanded to make war. Cutlu-Mofes p*?' '|74- 
promifed to aflift him to the utmoft of hij power ; upon ' ' *^* 
which he aflumed the purple, and was faluted emperor by jfieephruf 
the army under his command* At the fame time Nicepho* Betomatu 
rus Bryennius, who commanded in Dyrrachium, caufed andBryen^ 
himfelf to be proclaimed emperor; and depending upon the "'*J'"'' 
affection of his foldiers, whom he had gained by his. libe- 
rality, was preparing to march to Conftantinople. Michael^ 
apprifed that he was not in a condition to oppofe either of 
the two competitors, rcfolved to refign the empire, and 
leave the throne ertipty for the fuccefbful ufurper. Accord- Michatt 
ingly, divefting himfelf of the imperial ornaments, he re- njig^s. 
tired to a monafttfry, where he took orders, and was foon 
after raifed to the fee of Ephefus s. He bad reigned fix. 
years and as many months, and refigned in the year 1074. 

Upon his abdication Botoniates entered Conftantinople NUephorus 
without oppofition. Being crowned by the patriarch on the ^^^o"'^*^* 
twenty-fifth of March, he immediately difpatched Alexius ^I^"*^. 
Comneniis with the flower of his army againft Bryennius, 
who was advancing with long marches to the ipiperial city, 
at the head of a numerous and well-difciplined army, and ^ 

received with loud acclamations in all the places through i 

which he pafled, be being univerfally beloyed by the p(S0- 
plc, and efteemed as a perfon in every refpe<Sl well quali- 
fied for the empire. The two armies met at Calaura i|i 
Thrace ; and an engagement enfuing, the fortune of the 
day continued doubtful, till the Scythians, who ferved ux)- 
der Bryennius, purfuing the advantage they had gained over 
the forces of Alexius, fell upon his oaggage, and began to 
plunder ; a circumftance which occafionea great QonTufioh 
in the army of Bryennius, the reft of his trpops following 
the example of thofe Barbarians. Of this Alexius took a(P 
vantage ; and charging them with freOi vigour, put them 
in difoider : however they rallied, and) encouraged by Bry* 
ennius, returned to the charge ^ but Alexius having:, in the 
me^n time, taken the horfe of !3ryennius, adprnea as h|e 
was, according to the cuftom of thofe times, with thf in>- 
perial ornaments, he ordered him to be led up .and down 
the ranks, proclaiming that the general was ilain« His own 
men being, by this device, greatly encouraged, and thofe 
pf the enemy equally difpirited, the viApry continued no 
longer doub^uL Bryennivi9> by (hcvrmg himfelf at the bead ^ 

S Niceph, ^rytnn* Hift, Michael, cap* »-rS« Anja- Comnen. 
lib. i. cap* a. 

K3 of 



134 

Yr. of Fl. 

34*4« 
A D. 1075. 

U.C. 1824. 
Bryennius 

and taken 
prifoMir* 



BaJUaiius 
re*uolu s 



hut is de- 
feated by 
jUfxiuSn 



The Conftantinopolitan Hijiory. 

of his army, convinced them of their miftake ; bjut as they 
were already put into confufion, and had begun to give 
ground, after having attempted in vain to prevent their 
flight, he was himfelf obliged to fly with the reft. As he 
was purfued clofe by the emperor's forces, he had the mif- 
fortune to fall into their hands, after having given extraor- 
dinary proofs of perfonal valour. 

Alexius received him in a moft condefcending manner, 
entertained him at his own table, and foon after, having 
put his troops into winter- quarters, departed with his un- 
fortunate prifoner for Conftantinople. He was met on the 
road by Borilus, with orders from court to deliver up Bry- 
ennius to him, and march againft Bafilacius, who had been 
proclaimed emperor at Dyrrachium : being fupported by 
all the men of intereft in the Weft, he had furprifed Thef- 
falonica, and was preparing to attack the imperial city at 
the head of a conGderable army. Alexius, having drawn 
his tfoops out of their winter-quarters, marched againft the 
enemy ; and encamping at a fmatl diftance from Bafilacms, 
began to ravage and lay wafte the neighbouring country. 
Bafilacius, having attempted in vain to bring him to an en- 
gagement, refolved to ftorm his c^mp in the night j a pro- 
jeflt which he executed accordingly ; but Alexius, informed 
privately of his defign, received him, while he expefted to 
ineet with no oppofition, fo warmly, that his forces were 
fpon rcpulfed, and b^ obliged to throw himfelf, with part 
of his army, into Tfeeflalonica, which was immediately in- 
vefted by the conqueror. Bafilacius, who was a man of 
great refolution and intrepidity, rejeftirig the advantageous 
conditions oflFered by Alexius, prepared to defend himfelf 
to the laft extrepiity i but the inhabitants, dreading the em- 
peror's refentment, opened their gates, allowing Bafilacius 
time enoHgh to retire into the caftle, which he defended 
with incredible bravery, till he was betrayed by his own 
troops, -and delivered up to Alexius, who fent him to Con- 
ftantinople, where his eyes were pulled out by the empe- 
ror's orders, and his perfon confined to a monaftery **. As 
the cpnperor was advanced in years, and had no male iflTue, 
Borilus and Germanus, two brothers, natives of Scythia, 
and the chief favourites pf Botoniates, perfuaded him to 
name in his will Synademus for his fucceflbr, a youth of 
uncommon parts, and nearly related to the emperor. Though 
this intrigue was managed with great fecrecy, yet Mary, 
the emprefs, had fome intimation of it. She teas firft mar- 

>> Niceph. Bfyinn. in Boton. lib. 1. cap. 1, 2. Ann. Comn. lib. i. 
cap. 4, 5. 

ricd 



The ConftantinopoUtan Hiftory^ . 1 35 

Ti«d to the emperor Michael Ducas, and afterwards to his 
fucceflbr Nicephorus Botoniates. By her former hufband 
ihe had Conftantine Ducas, who, by marrying the daughter 
of Botoniates, had acquired an indifputed right to fucceed 
him in the empire. 

The cmprefs, therefore, incenfcd both againft the empe- 
ror and his favourites, for excluding her fon from the em- 
pire, difclofed the whole to the two brothers Alexius and 
Ifaac Comneni, who promifed her all the afliftance in their 
power. In the mean time the two favourites, taking um- 
brage at the intimacy that appeared between the emprefs 
and the Comneni, refolved to remove the two brothers out 
of the way. Of this deiign Alexius being feafonably in- 
formed, he applied to Paciirianus, an officer of great experir 
ence, and equally verfed in flate-affairs, acquainted him with 
the defign they had formed of depofing the emperor, and 
intreated him to aflift them with his advice. Pacurianus, 
having heard him with great attention, anfwered without 
the lead hefitation, that if they withdrew to the army early 
next morning, he would attend them in their^ighc ; but if 
they delayed one moment longer, he would dii^over their 
treafonable defigns to the emperor. Alexius, charmed with 
this refolute and generous anfwer, fled in the morning, with 
hi^ brother Ifaac, Pacurianus, and the reft of their friends,' 
towards the army, which then lay encamped on the borders 
of Thrace. Upon their arrival they acquainted the chief 
officers with their defign of creating a new emperor ; which 
being univerfally approved of, a council was fummoned ; 
and after ibme deliberation, whether Ifaac or Alexius fhould 
be raifed to the empire, the latter was unanimoufly chofen, 
and faluted emperor by the whok army, which, without Akxiusfa^ 
lofs of time, he led to Conftantinople, being received with iutedempi* 
joyful acclamations in all the cities through which he ^^^ '^ ^"^ 
pafled. ^^^^' 

The inhabitants of Conftantinople, intimidated by the 
troops of Botoniates, ihut their gates againft him ; but an 
officer, to whofe charge one of the quarters of the city 
was committed, having privately admitted part of Alexius's fff '«*w 
forces, the gates were opened in the night to the reft, who, ^**?^f** 
Tulhing in, made themfelves mafters of the city, before Bq- "**^ * 
toniates knew it was aflaulted. As Alexius's army was 
compofed of Barbarians as well as Chriftians, the unhap- 
py city was plundered in a moft cruel manner, without 
any regard even to the churches, which, together witii 
the monafteries, were ftripped of their wealth and orna^- 
ments. George Palxologus, a perfon of great authority in 
the empire^ and a zealous championibr the Comneni, eaGly 

K 4 prcr 



ft 

1^4 The CMiftMinopolitan Hiftory. 

{ntv&iled upon the offices of th^ imperial navy, ttien rid- 
ing in the haven of Cbnftantinople, to declare for the new 
tmperor. BotOniat^Si thus fc^rfaken) fent fome fenators to 
Atexiufi, offering .the whole power to him^ provided he 
were fuflfered to retain the bare name of emperor, and With 
it the 6rnament3 of the imperial dignity. Alexius was in- 
clined to comply with his requeft ; but John Ducas, bro- 
ther to the late emperor Conftantitie Dacasi and an irrecon- 
tileable enemy to Botoniates, would not fufier him to come 
to an aecommodarion upon any terms whatever. Borilus, 
the reigning favourite, obferving with how much fecurity 
the troops of Alexius ranged through the city in queft of 
plunder, aflembled a confiderable body of refolute men ; 
find having encouraged them with large fums, and greatet 
protnifes, was preparing to attack the unwary enemy : but 
Cofmas, the patriarch, a man famed for his piety, advifing 
, Botoniatcs rather to fubmit tb Providence, and refign the 
Empire, than fufFcr the city to be polluted with the effufion 
xH Chriftian blood, he immediately embraced his counfel. 
Boioniates Leaving the imperiiil palace, he withdrew to the great 
njigns, fchurch, and from thence to a ihonaftery, where he took 
the religious habit, after he had reigned two years and ten 
inonths *. 
Yr. of Fl. Botoniates having I'efigned the fovereign power. Alexias 
3426. Was, by the unanimous content of the fenate and people, 
IT r' 's^? proclaimed emperor, and crowned by the patriarch in the 
• y' * • month of April, 1077. His firft care was to reward thofe 
Alexius ^^^ ^^^ httn inflrumetital in his promotion, conferring on 
Comnenus thfem the chief employments in the ftate, and even invent- 
cronvHid ing new ho^nours and dignities to gratify them. Conftan- 
$mptr$r. j^j^g Ducas, thfc fon of the late emperx)r Michael, was fuf- 
fcred to wear an ithpl^rial crownj and appear with the other 
ehfigns of fovereignty, purfuant to a promife which Alexius 
is faid to have made to the emprcfs Mary, before he took 
airnis againft Botoniates. As the barbarous behaviour of 
his foldiers, upon their firft entering the city, had giveh 
igveat offence bi)th to the clergy and people, Alexius, touched 
^ith remorfe for the diforders they nad committed, refolved 
to nftake an open donfeffion, and undergo a public penance. 
Accordingly he appeared before the patriarch, and fevcral 
Other ecclefiaftics in the garb of a penitent ; aiid, acknoW- 
Jeging hiihfelf guilty bf the many diforders that had been 
committed by his foMifers, intfeated the patriarch to imp6(b 
upon him a pcnanct anfwferaMe to the enormity ot his 
crimes. The patriarch enjoined hiih, and all his rclatiorfs 

i Ann. Comii^. lib. il. (Cdp. utt. & Hb^ ni. cap. t. 

>»4 



The CotfiantinopalUun Sijlwy. Ig7 

and »d{t4*retitS) to hh^ to lie upon the bam ground, lad 
to pra£life feveral other aufteritiesi for the i^ace of forty 
days, which no perfon performed with more chearfulacu 
IhAn the emperor hitnfelf. Having thus atoned for hia 
Crimea, tof at teaft gained the affedioni and efrecm of tkc 
clergy, be began to mAt the neceflary preparations for 
checking the conquefts of the Turks, who had feized oft 
feveral provinces during the late diftratfiions, and tfansatea*- 
ed to fubvert the cm{>iWk 

But Solyman, the fon and fucceiTor of Cutia^Mofes, 
alarmed at the warlike preparations that were carrying on 
in all the provinces of the empire, difpatched ambafladore 
to Alexius, with overtures for a lading peace, which he at 
£rft rejefled, but was in the end glad to accept, though he 
had gained feveral advantages over the enemy, upon certain 
advice) that Robert Guifcard, duke of Puglia and Cala- Yt» of T1 
bria> was making great preparations againft him in the 3429! 
Weft. Robert was by birth a Norman, the fon of Tancred, A.D. jo8o« 
lord of Hauteviile, who having a nnmeroos family, and ^'^''>»9 *. 
but a fmall eftate, fent his two eldeft fons to try their for- j^^j^^^^ 
tiitte in the wars againft the Saracens in Italy, where they Guifcari't 
dfftinguifhed themfeives in a very eminent manner ; and expmtwn 
jhaving expelled the Saracens, feized on the places they had ag^infi 
^CKftefied, eftablifliing a new principality in Italy. Rbbert, ^^^^^* 
t-he third fon, upon the death of his two elder brothera, did 
not content himfelf with the principality of Puglia, which 
they had enjoyed, but reduced the grefi^r part of that coun- 
try which is now called the kingdomr^ iNaples, taking up- 
ion himfelf the title of duke of Puglia and Calabria. To- 
wards the end of the reign of Botoniates, Michael, who 
had been forced to refign the empire, having mtule his ef- 
rape into the Weft, prevailed upon Robert, whofe daugh- ' ' ' 
ter had been fome years before betrothed to Conftantine, 
Michael's fon, to efpoufe his caufe, and attempt his reftoia- 
tion. With this view Robert made great preparations both 
by fea and land, which were continued even after the re- 
•fi^nation of Botoniates, Robert being deteitnined to drivis 
Alexius from the throne, if pof&bie, and reftore Michael, 
t>r, as fome authors infmuate, to feifise on the empire for 
himfelf. 

Be that as it may, Robert, having left his fon Roger as his Rohtrt 
Hieutenant in Italy, failed with all his forces from Brundu- paffes oyer 
fiiitai; and landing at Buthtotum, in fipirus, reduced that ' ^'''^ ^Z*''*'* 
^)fece, while his fon Bohemond, with part of the army, ^akes B«- 
ieiced Aidtm, a celebrated port and tity in the country tiow throtum 
tailed Albania. FroAi thence they advanced to Dyrrachi- and Aubm* 
Vm^ wbi^k they invcftod botli by fea ^nd land i tnit met 

with 



1^8 The ConJiantinopoUtdn Uyioiy* 

With a moft vigorous oppofition from George Palasdlogus^ 

whom the emperor had entrufted with the defence of that 

important place, and who, m fpite of the utmoft efforts of 

the enemy, held out, till the Venetians^ with whom the 

emperor entered into an alliance, arriving with a powerful 

and well-appointed fleet, engaged the enemy's fquadron, 

Kisfttit commanded by Bohemond, and gave them a total overthrow, 

^f'^^ ^ the admiral himfelf, whofe (hip was funk with feveral others^ 

^jfj^ " having narrowly efcaped falling into their hands. 

After this victory, the Venetians landing without lofs of 
time, and being joined by Falseologus from the town, fell 
with great fury upon Robert's men, who were employed in 
the fiege, deftroyed their works, burnt their engines, and 
having driven them to their camp, returned to their (hips 
loaded with booty. As the Venetians were mailers at fea, 
the befieged were fupplied with plenty of provifions, while 
a great famine raged in the enemy's camp, attended, as 
ufual, by a peftilential diftemper, which is faid to have de- 
ftroyed ten thoufand men in the fpace of three months, 
among whom were fome of the chief officers, and many 
other perfons of diftinftion. However, Robert, who was 
a prince of great intrepidity, addrefs, and refolution, pur- 
fued the fiege ; and having with great difficulty repaired 
and equipped his fleet, found means to fupply his*fami(hed 
troops with plenty of provifions, brought from Italy. Pa- 
l^ologus, finding the courage of the garrifon and citizens 
began to fail, fent repeated advices to the emperor of the 
-difficulties to which they would in all likelihood be reduced. 
^fieempe' Hereupon Alexius refolved to march in perfon to the relief 
^otk€Velitf ^^ ^^ place. Accordingly, leaving his brother Ifaac at 
•ftkttlace\ Conflantinople, to prevent any difturbances there during 
his abfence, he proceeded toTlieflTalonica : being there joint- 
ed by Pacurianus and the troops under his command, he 
purfued his march with incredible expedition to Dyrra- 
chium ; and encamping at fome diftance from the town, on 
a rifing-ground, with the fea on the left, and an inacceilible 
mountain on the rights he fummoned a council of war* 
After a warm deba^te, it was refolved by a gr^at majority, 
but contrary to the opinion of the moft experienced officers 
in the army, that the whole fhould be put to the iflue of an 
engagement ; which Robert was fo far from declining, that, 
.obferving the emperor's preparations, he ordered all his 
ihips to be funk, giving his men to underftand, that they had 
no hopes of fafety but in vidory. However, the emperor's 
forces had at firft the advantage, and drove a body of Ro- 
- hurt's troops quite to the fea; but they being encouraged 
aod Wou^bt back to the charge by Gaita^ Rol^^lt's wife, ^ 



The ConfiantinopoUtdn Hiftory. 13^ 

vroman of»mafculine courage and behaviour, the battle was 
renewed with frefh vigour, and the vi£lory long difputed. 

At length the emperor's forces began to give ground, and i,uf // jg^ 
being warmly prefled by the enemy, the whole right wing feaud. 
ffed in a moft precipitate and diforderly manner : many 
of them efcaped to a neighbouring church dedicated to St. 
Michael ; but the viftorious enemy purfuing them, fetiire 
to the church, which was foon confumed, with all who 
were in it. In the mean time, Robert having defeated 
the main bbdy of the emperor's army, Alexius himfelf was 
forced to retire, though he was the laft, if we may give 
credit to his daughter Anne Comnena, who turned his back. 
The flower of the emperor's troops were cut off, with an 
incredible number of officers and perfons of diftindion, 
among whom were Conftantius the fon of Conftantine Du- 
cas, Nicephorus Synademus, Nicephorus Palaeologus, the 
father of George, Zecharias, Afpetes,^ &c. The emperor 
with great difficulty made his efcape, and reached Achris, 
leaving the enemy matter of his camp, and the whole bag- 
gage of the army. Robert, elated with this viftory, re- m^.^^. 
turned before Dyrrachium, which immediately furrendered, chtumfiir* 
and opened its gates to the conqueror, who, as the year renders* 
was already far advanced, put his troops into winter-quarters, 
with a defign to purfue his conquefts early in the fpring. 
In the mean time Alexius ordered frefh forces to be raifed 
in all the provinces of the empire, feizing for that purpofe, 
as the treafury was quite exhaufted, on the wealth of the 
churches and monafteries ; an expedient which gave great 
oiFence to the clergy, and had almoft occafioned dreadful 
diflurbances in the imperial city. ' 

At the fame time Alexius entered into an alliance with 
Henry emperor of Germany, who, early. in the fpring, in- 
vaded Calabria at the head of a numerous army. Robert / 
was no fooner informed of the emperor's motions than* \ 

fummoninga council of war, he appointed his Ton Bohe- 
mond his lieutenant in the Eaft ; and having recommended 
him to the officers of the army, he advanced without delay 
to the relief of the pope, befieged by the emperor's forces 
in the cattle of St. Angelo, retook Rome, and drove the Robert 
emperor out of Italy, as we ftiall relate at large in a more obliges the 
proper place. In the mean time Bohemoud reduced feveral ^Z'''^'* 
places in Illyricum \ and having defeated Alexius in two q^f/^^aly. 
pitched battles, entered Theflaly, and inverted Larifla ; Several 
which being defended by an officer of great courage and ex- places in 
pericnce, held out till the emperor, having recruited his ^''^^^^*?^ 
army, marched to its relief. Soon after his arrival he found ^^ohemnd 
f{i^9t>s to draw a ftrong party of Bohcmond's men into an 

ambufcadej 



I40 



RohiTt it- 

jtattd hy 
tht Venc" 
iians at 
Jea. 



Yf. of Fl. 

A.D.1083. 

U.C. 183*- 

lie dies^ 



^he Scy* 
fJiian 'uaar* 



The Q^ammopQlitan Htftory^ 

ambufcade, who were almofl; all cut off. However, in tlie^ 
battle wbich was fought a few days afteri Bohemond had 
the advantage ; but his troops mutinying, and refuting to 
continue the war, till they had received their arrears, he 
was obliged to repair to his father in Italy. Alexius^ 
taking advantage of his abfence, recovered ieveral cities. 
Being informed that Robert was making great preparattona 
againft hims he had recourfe once more to the Venetians, 
who having with incredible expedition equipped a powerful 
fleet, engaged Robert, and vanquiihed him in two fuccef-* 
five battles, but were foon after furprifed and defeated with 
the lofs of almoft their whole navy. We are told that Ro- 
bert ufed his viCtovy with the greateft barbarity, putting fe<- 
veral of his prifoners to unfpeakable torments. 

The Venetians equipped a fecond fleet ; and joining that 
of the emperor, fell unexpeftedly upon Robert's navy, 
while they were riding, without the lead apprehenfion of 
an enemy, near Buthrotum, funk mod of his fhips, and took 
a great number of prifoners, his wife and younger Tons hav- 
ing narrowly efcaped falling into their hands. Robert, not 
in the lead difpirited by this overthrow, ordered his fleet to 
be refltted, new (hips to be built, and levies to be made 
throughout his Italian dominions, with a defign to purfue 
the war with more vigour than ever : but being in the mean 
time feized with a violent fever, he died in the ifland of 
Cephalenia, in the feventy-ninth year of his age. Upon 
bis death Roger, his fon and fucceflfor, thinking it raJh to 
purfue fo 4angerous and expenfive a war, recalled hi$ 
troops ; fo that Dyrracfaium, and the other places whicb 
they had feized in Illyricum, fubmitted to the emperor^. 

This war was fqarce ended, when another broke out with 
ihe Scythians, who, pafling the Danube, laid walle gre^ 
part of Thrace, committing every-where horrid cruelties. 
The emperor difpatched Pacurianus and Branas againfl: 
tbeoi, who, engaging the enemy, though far fupenor in 
iiiimbers^ were both cut ofl^, with the greater part of the 
grrny, to the unfpeakable grief of the emperor, who had a 
particular edeem for Pacurianus, on account of bis extra^ 
ordinary parts, his experience in war, and his approved 
fidelity. This defeat was owing to the raihnefs of Branas^ 
who in a manner forced his colleague to venture an engage*- 
jnent, contrary to his own opinion. Talicius, who had 
(ignaliaed himfelf on feveral occafions, being appointed tp 
^command the army in their room, fell upon the enemy as 
they l^y encamped in the neighbourhood of P)ulippopolij$| 



^ Amu Compeii% Ub< v. cap. s<-5, & \\\u vi. cap^ 1—3* 



kUk4 



I 

Tibe ConJiMtificpoUtM Hijory. f^i 

killed great nambers, and obliged che reil to retire in the 
iitmoft conf ufion. However, they recarned in the fpring 
following, in fuch force, that the emperor refolved to marck 
Bgainft them in perfon. Accordingly, leaving the imperial 
city, he fet Out for Adrianople, and advanced to a place 
called Lardea, where, contrary to the advice of his moft 
experienced officers, he engaged the enetny ; and, after t TJ^egmpi' 
warm difpute, which laded almoft from morning to night* ror^jarm^ 
was utterly defeated. Incredible numbers of his men were ^rf^^^dkjf 
put to the fword pr taken prifoners, h« himfelf cfcapiog \hiaS^ 
with the greateft difficulty to Beroe. 

The Turks, finding the chief ftrcngthof the empire was 
employed againft the Scythians, broke with great violence 
into the Roman territorfes, and made themfelves mafters of 
feverai conGderable .places in Afia, and among the reft of 
Clazomene, Phocaea, Mirylene, Methymna, and foon after 
tiif the iH ami of Chios. This iudden irroptkni obliged the 
Bttiperor to fend part of his forces into the Eaft, under the 
condu£t of John Ducas, brother to the enipreis, while he an Yr. of FL 
perfon led the reft, reinforced with new levies, agaipft the 3433* 
Scythians, ^y whom be was again defeated with great lofa. ^'^' *J^4» 
ffe was Wrayed by Neantses, a Scythian, who bad dc* '^^* 

felted in the beginmng of the war, but abandoning ham ifl jngxius 
the heat of the battle, fo diteartencd tbe Romans by has fud- ^^/„, ^ 
"den fiigiht, that they gave grovod 9 being prefied by the complete 
i^Demy, aiid overpowered with numbers, they fled in great *diSofy 
^iforder, leaving the Scythians mafters of their camp and •^'''^^^*** 
Jiaggage. However, Alexius afterwards gained a confideo- 
^e advantage over them ; and tbe year foUowing^ havinf^ 
vanqui^ftiftd them in a pitched battle, made fuch a dreadftd 
-ha^KOck of t^e fugitives, that few of them are faid to itave 
efcvped ehre general fiaugbter^ An end being pot to the 
Scythian war by this vi6lory, the emperor refolved to march 
in perfon agaitift the Turks, with whom John Ducas, his 
'^otker-m-law, had often fought with various fuccelEi. 
Tzachas, a leading man among the Turks, having reduced ^^***^*^ 
Smyrna, ereAed there a new principality, indepMcndcnt of ^J*^^2J!^. 
'die f trltsn, haraffing, with frequent incurfions, the neigh- 
tiGuring countries. He had, befides feverai other pbces, 
^keti poffeffion 'of Mitylene, which John Ducas, purfuamt 
to his iifftra£kion6, closely befieged hj land, while Conftas- 
liMe DelaiTenus, who comnnanded the fieet, inve&ed it by 
U%. Sttt Tzachas, haviag committed the defence of the 
'^ce to bis bvother, 'kept thb field with a^hofen body of 
Iroops, watdbing ibe «iotian6 bf tbe Aomasis, intercepting 

^ Ann. CoBWien. UU vi. cap*! jr^^ fib. vik cap, i*-*S. 

their 



>4* 



Mftylene 
rttaktn by 
the Ro- 
wumu 



TxAchas 
fttt to death 
iy theful" 
tan^ 

Yr. of Fl. 

344** 
A.D. 1093. 

7he Scythi- 
ans reneiM 
the tvar. 



The^ConftantinopoUtan Uyiory. 

their provifions, and haraf&ng them with frequent and fud* 
den attacks, which diverted them from purfuing the liegc 
with due vigour. 

But John DucaSi having at length drawn Tzachas to an 
engagement, defeated him entirely; and, in confequence of 
this overthrow, he fent deputies to Ducas, with" propofaU 
for a peace, which was concluded upon the following terms: 
that I zachas ihould be allowed to retire unmolefted to Smyr- 
na ; that Mitylene fhould be delivered up to the Romans ; 
and that none of the inhabitants fhould be injured in their 
perfons or eftates, or be forced to attend Tzachas at his de- 
parture. Thefe articles were mutually agreed to, and hof- 
tages delivered on both (ides; but Tzachas having, in breach 
of the treaty, obliged feveral of the inhabitants to quit their 
habitations, and follow him, Delaflenus failed after him ; 
and foon coming up with him, funk moil of his Oiips, put 
great numbers of his men to the fword, and releafed the 
captives, Tzachas himfelf having narrowly efcaped falling 
into his hands by embarking in a light v^flel, which carried 
him to Smyrna, where he ordered another fleet to be equip- 
ped, and in the mean time marched with all the forces he 
could raife to Abydos, which he hoped to reduce, before it 
could be relieved by the emperor : but the fultan, confider- 
ing him as an enemy no lefs dangerous to himfelf than to 
the empire, marched againft him in perfon, at the head of a 
powerful army, while DelafTenus, the Roman admiral, cut 
off his retreat by fea. Tzachas^ finding himfelf attacked by 
two powerful enemies at once, chofe to fubmit to the fultan, 

^whofe daughter he had married. The fultan received him 
in a very obliging manner, and invited him to an entertain- 
ment; but in the height of his mirth, caufed him to be mur- 

^dered, and foon after concluded a peace with the emperor ^. 
In the year 1093, the Scythian war broke out again, the 
Barbarians being encouraged to invade the empire by an im- 
poftor, who, pretending to be Leo, the elded fon of the late 
emperor Romanus Diogenes, flain fome years before in an 
engagement with the Turks, laid claim to' the empire, and 
was received with great joy by the Scythians, who wanted 

. only a pretence to renew hoftilities. Alexius, having received 
timely advice of the defign they had formed of falling with 
all their forces on the empire, vifited the borders in perfon; 
and, having fupplied the frontier towns with whatever was 
neceflary for their defence, repaired to the city of Anchialus 
on the Ituxine Sea. There he was informed, that the Bar- 

. bariansi having pafled the Danube, and caufed the impoftor 



« Ami* Cosmen. lib. vii. ppi ^, 7* 



to 



^he Confiantinopolitan Hiftory. I4j 

to be proclaimed emperor in feveral towns, which had fub« 

mitted to them, \vere -advancing by long marches toAnchia- 

lus, in order to betiege it, and, by taking the emperor, finifh 

the war at ohce. Upon this intelligence, Alexius, haTin? 

left a fufficient garrifon in the places encamped with the reft 

of his forces on a riiing-ground at a fmall diftance from the 

city, and there fortified himfelf in fuch manner, that the 

Barbarians, after having furveyed his camp and works for 

three days together, thought proper to retire* Leaving An- 

chialus, which they could not inveft without driving the em« 

peror from his pofh they marched to Adrianople, the im-* and biJUg§ 

poftor perfuading them, that the place would be immediately Adrian* 

delivered up by Nicephorus Bryennius, who commaoded in ^P^ » 

it, and had, as he affirmed, been highly obliged by bis fa* 

ther Romanus Diogenes, when emperor. 

The credulous Barbarians marched chearfully to Adrian* 
ople, but, contrary to their expectation, met with (b vigorous 
a refi (lancet that, after they had continued feven weeks be- 
fore it, they thought of abandoning th^ enterprize : but be- 
ing encouraged by the pretended Leo to purfue the fiege, the 
place was reduced to the utmoft extremity, and muil have 
fobmitted in a few days, had not an officer of the army named 
Alacafeus, preferved it by the following ftratagem : in imi- nvhichis 
tation of the celebrated Zophyrus, he disfigured his face, prtfer'ved 
mangled his whole bj^dy in a cruel manner, and flying in ^^A^'tf- 
that condition to the impoftor, told him, that he was the ^'** 
fon of one who had been inviolably attached to his father^ 
on which account he had been thus inhumanly treated by 
Alexius, and was come to implore the prote£lion of the Iaw« 
ful emperor, and conjure him, by the memory of both their 
fathers, to revenge their mutual injuries* The ufurper ere* 
diting what he faid, and repofing an entire confidence in • 
him, followed him, attended by a chofeti body of Scythians^ 
to a fortification in that neighbourhood, which Alacafeus 
pretended the governor defigned to betray into his hands* 
He was accordingly received into the place, and invited by 
the governor to a grand entertainment; at which the mock 
prince, and his Scythians, who, without the leaft apprehen- 
tion of treachery, had drank to excefs, were feized and l9aded 
with chains. Alexius, informed of thelsvent, marched with 
ftll poffible expedition againft the Scythians, now deftitute of 
pleader; and, falling upon them before they had the lead: neScyihi* 
intelligence of his approach, flew feven thoufand upon the ^"-^ defn^h 
.^pot, took three thoufand prifoners, and obliged, the reft to '^' 
6ve themfelves by a precipitate flight. However, they re- 
Jurncd the following year with a very numerous army; but 
being overthrown in two fuccefl&ve engagements^ they fent 

at 



144 ^^ Gmfi4HtkfopoUtM Hyiary. 

A peaci at length deputieg to treat of a peaee ; which was coneluded 

lomcludid vpon the emperor't own terms "• After tfatg accommodatipot 

wthtktm. Alexius returned to Conftantinople, loaded with boojtjr* 

whieh he generoufly divided among thofe who had di^in- 

guilhed themfelfes in the war. 

Thekofy^ During this fliay at Conftantinople, he was informed, that 

«MV-. the weftern Chriftiatts were making gr^at preparatio98 for the 

recovery of the Hol]r Land, at that time poSeiied by the 

Turlcs and Saracens. As the fortunes of thofe adventurer9 

are infisparahly interwoven with the remaining part of this 

hiftory, it might be juflly darned an unpardonable omiijion, 

not to acquaint the reader with the motives that induced 

them to engage \n that undertaking, commonly known by 

Feter the the name of the Holy War, or the Crufade. tlbout the year 

ktrmit^his lopj, an hermit, named Peter, a native of Amiens in Pi-r 

^nlthg^if- ^^^T^ undertook a pilgrimage to Jerufalem, to vifit the holy 

fids of it, * pisu:^^ Ob£erving the cniferable condition of the Qhriftians 

in Afia, Syria, and Faleftine, at that time moftly poflefled 

by the Turks, and the cruel ufage they fuffered from thofe 

infidels, on account of their religios* he began to delibej-ate, 

firft with himlelf, atnd afterwards wkh Simon, then patriarch 

of Jeruialem, aibout the aieans of re&uing them from the 

lysanny under which they groaned. As the Eadern empire 

was in too weak a 'coadjkion to afford any hopes of rodrefsj 

he refelved to apply to the weftern priiicesi, and endeavour, 

to unite them in a league againft the commoo enemy, for the 

relief .of the unhappy Cbriftians, and the recovery of the 

Holy Land. Accordingly, having cecdved prefling letters 

from the patriardi, and tbs grand mafter of the Hofpitallers^ 

to that purpoiib, for the pope, and all the Chrlftian princes 

in the Weft, he undertook himfelf to-be the meflenger. £m* 

• barking in the firft fiiip he found, he arrived at Bari in Pug* 

«lia, and proceeding froin thence to Eome, delivered the let^ 

ters to pope Urban II. giving him at the fame time a pa* 

iheticaeccviit of the inexpreffible miferies theChriftians £i& 

fcred under the Turkifh yoke, of which be had been an eye* 

witneft. 

Having received all Hhe encoui;agemeiit he could defire 

from the pope, he applied to the odier princes, and travel* 

ling from J&ingdom to kingdom, infpisfid both princes and 

people with tl:^ pious defiice of relieving the opprefled Qbril)^ 

tians, and refcuio^ the Holy Land out pf the h^^ds of the In* 

^he council £deis. The pope,i informed of this^neral dliipofitio^^ f umt* 

ofCler- gmoned a council ^t deymont in Erance, ' jndtere throe boo(- 

monu ,^^^ ^^^ (^ biihops Jiifit, and 4ikewife the artibaffadott of 



^ iAmii fiiiiina&*Jib»^« tf ifw 

moft 



/' 



The CmftantifiopoUian Hiftofy^ 145 

nwjft Chriftian princes ; to whom Peter the hermit made ah Yr. of Fl. 
eloquent fpeeth, reprefenting the fufferings of the opprefled 3446' 
Chriftians, the defoiation of the holy placeSi and the cruelty «?• '°9^* 
o£ the Turks, in fuch a pathetic manner, that a religious ' «'^46* 
war was unanimoufly refolved on, all declaring, as if filled ^rhecru^ 
with one fpirit, their confent, by often repeating aloud, fadepub* 
** Deus vult, Deus vult !" God will have itfoy God will hav^, Hfied* 
itfo ! Upon the difiblution of the council, the crufade was 
publifhed by the pope, and generally embraced throughout 
the Weil, multitudes flocking from all parts, with red crofies 
on their breads, the mark of their expedition, ready to re- 
covei the Holy Land, and redeem the Chriftians from the 
cruel yoke they groaned under, at the expence of their lives. 
They are fuppofed to have amounted to three hundred thou- Thiprintl* 
fand men, of whom the chief commanders were, Hugh bro- /^' '««• 
ther to Philip L king of France, Robert duke of Normandy, «»^«^'''» 
Robert earl of Flanders, Raymond of Touloufe, Godfrey of 
Bouillon, with.his brothers Baldwin andEuftace, Stephen de 
Valois earl of Chartres, Bohemond prince of Tarentum, and 
Peter the hermit. 

To the latter was given the command of forty thoufand Peter th 
men ; which army he divided into two bodies, leading one l^frmn be^ 
himfelf, and committing the other to the condu£): of Gau- ^^"^^y 
tier, a native of France, furnamed, from his being a fol- ' 
dier of fortune, the Money lefs. Gautier began his iparch 
on the eighteenth of March > 1096, and paffing through Ger- 
many, entered Hungary, where the inhabitants refufing to 
fupply him and his army with the neceiTary provifions, he 
was forced to plunder the country. In confequence of this 
rapine, the Hungarians, attacking him on his march, killed 
great numbers 01 his men, and obliged the reft to fave them- 
felves among the woods and marfties, where they fufiered 
inexpreflSble miferies, till the prince of Bulgaria, touched 
with compadion, furniflied them with guides, who con« 
duded them to Conftantinople, the place of their general 
rendezvous, where they waited the arrival of Peter, who 
did not join them till the firft of Augufl, being conftantly 
haraflTed on his march by the Hungarians, who ilew above 
two thoufand of his men, took all their baggage, and 
two thoufand waggons, with the money defigned to pay Htsillew* 
the army. To thefe hoftllities Peter himfelf gave occaHon, duB* 
by fuffering his men to commit all forts of disorders, under 
pretence of revenging the cruel treatment which the army 
under Gautier had experienced from the natives* Peter, 
having with difficulty reached Conftantinople with the re- 
mains of his (battered army, was received, in appearancci 
with great -marks of friendQiip and kindnefs by the emperor 
Alexius, who, neverthelefs, was in his heart greatly alarm- 
V0L.XV. L cd 



Xi|6 The ConftMtinopoUtm Hifiiny, 

cd at the expedition ; for though he believed the common 
people might 2L& upon principles of relisioni yet he could 
not perfuade himfelf/ that princes would leave their domi- 
nions, and engage in fo hazardous an undertaking, upon 
the fame motives. However^ he fupplied Peter's army with 
all manner of provifions ; who thereupon pafled the ftreights, 
and marching into Bithynia, encamped near the city of 
Nice. 

Not long after his departure, the emperor received advice 
of Godfrey's arrival at Fhilippopolis, with ten thouiand 
.horfe and feventy thoufand foot; an armament which gave 
* him no fmall jealoufy, the more, as Godfrey immediately 
difpatched an officer, to demand the liberty of Hugh^ bro- 
ther to the king of France, who, in his pafTage from Bari 
to Dyrrachium, being feparated by a ftorm from the reft of 
the fleet, had been feized by the governor of that city, and 
fent to Conftantinople, where he was detained prifoner. As 
C^ifrty the emperor refufed, under various pretences, to releafe his 
wutrches fff prifoner, Godfrey, who was already advanced as far as 
mm hofitle Adrianople, began to a£i: againft him as arf open enemy, 
^u^Cvnfian^ ravaging the country, and marching dire&ly to Con- 
timapu. ftantinople. Alexius, not finding himfelf in a condition 
to oppofe (b powerful an enemy, complied with his de- 
mand, promidng at the fame time to fupply his army with 
provifions ; which however he negleded to do, and by that 
omiifion provoked Godfrey to fuch a degree, that he defo- 
lated the whole neighbouring country, to the very gates of 
Conftantinople. Alexius, apprehenfive that he would fall 
upon the imperial city itfelf, fent ambafladors to treat of an 
accommodation, offering his own fon as a hoftage, and 
promifing the enraged prince all poffible fatisfadion. God- 
frey having received the envoys in a moft obliging manner, 
and put a (lop to all hoftilities, the emperor invited him, 
and the other princes and chief officers of bis army into the 
city, where they were treated with great magnificence, and 
An mgret'- entertained in a friendly manner. 

mient be- After feveral conferences, and warm difputes, the fol- 
tnoiinthi lowing agreement was at length concluded between them 
^dthi *"^ Alexius; that, during the expedition the emperor 
frimc€s of ftould affift them with all his forces, fupply them with 
the eru' arms, provifions, and other neceflarieS) and confider them. 
f^f* on all occafions as bis friends and allies. On the other 

hand, the princes were to reilore to the empire fuch pro- 
vinces and cities as they (hould recover out of the hands of 
the Turks and Saracens. Soon after this accommodation^ 
the other princes arrived by difFjsrent routes, at the head of 
powerful armies, and were all received b^ the emperor with 
the greateft marks of efteem and affe£lioa. After a ihort 



T^e ConfiantinopoUiim tiijkrf^ t/^f 

ftajr at Conftantinople, the forces paffcd the Bofporus, 7tn4 
encamped near Chalcedony with a defign to advance to' 
tfice, and lay iiege to that important city. 

While Godfrey and the other princes were on their 7hearmp 
fnarch, the army coiymanded by Peter the hermit, which ^??*?^*" 
tad entered Bithynia, and encamped in the neighbourhood ^„/^ ^,^ 
of Nice, began to mutiny-; and depofing Gautier, advanced 
Raymond, a German commander of great reputation, in 
his room. After this tranfaflion, the Germans and ItaUana, 
feparating from the French, encamped on different ground. 
A ftrong party of the Italians, having made themfelves 
mafters of a town called Xerigordus, werejurprifed by the 
Turks, and put to the fword. The French, who lay en- 
camped near Helenopoirs and Cibolus, two villages on the 
gulf of Nicomedia, were, by the Turkifli commander, drawa 
into an' ambufcade, and moftly either cut off, or taken pri-i^ 
foners ; fo that of the forty thoufand men commanded b]r 
Peter, fcarce three thoqfand were left, who, with him, 
took refuge in Cinite; which place they defended till the 
arrival of Godfrey, and the other princes of the crufadejj 
with whom they marched to Nice ; which city was inveft* Yr, of Fl. 
cd by the Chriftian princes in the month of May, 1097. As 3446. 
the place had been ftrongly fortified by Solyman, then ful- ^•^- '097» 
tan of the Turks, who had chofen it for the feat of his em- '^^^* 

pire, and was defended by a numerous garrifon, the fiege* jf-^^^ ^^^ 
laded feveral weeks; during which time, both the Chri- /fgij hy 
ftians and Turks gave many fignal inftances of their intre*- theChnm 
pidity and refolution. Solyman, who had pofted himfelf /'^"•'» 
with a numerous army among^the neighbouring mountains, 
attdmpte<t twice to raife the fiege 5 but was as often repult 
ed wth great flaughter. However, the befieged continued 
to defend the place with undaunted courage and refolution, 
till the emperor Alexius, who affifted in pcrfon at the en- 
terprize, having caufed a great number of fmall veflels to 
be fitted out, cut off the communication which, by means 
of the lake Afcanius, the city maintained with the neigh- 
bouring country. 

The garrifon being thus deprived of the eonftant fupplies 
they received, both of men and provifions, and at the-fame 
time privately folicited by the eitlperor, with fplendid pro- 
mifes, to furrender the place> not to the weftern princes, but 
to him, they fubmitted at length, and, on the fifth of July, andiahtfk.' 
delivered up the city to his lieutenant, Butumites. Among 
the many captives taken on this occafion, were Solyman's 
wife, and two of bis children, who were immediately 
fent to Conftantinople. After the redudipn of Nice, the 
princes/ taking their leave, of thcf craperori of whom they 

L 2 ' novir 



1^8 ^i^^ Qmfiantittopotitan Hifioty. 

now entertained great diftruft, directed their march tOM 
wards Syria, having firft divided the army into two bodies^ 
for the convenience of forage and fubfiftence. Bohemond> 
who marched the firft, was fuddenly attacked by Solyman, 
at the head of fixty thoufand Turks, and would, in all like« 
lihoods have been defeated, had not Ifugh come feafonably 
to his relief with thirty thoufand* men; who, falling upon 
Th Turks the enemy, cue forty thoufand of them in pieces, and obliged 
deftaiid. ^^ jr^ft to take (belter among the neighbouring mountams« 
This viftory was attended wi|h the furrender of Antioch in 
Pifidia, of Iconium in Cilicia* Heraclea, and feveral other 
places. The Chriflian princes, animated with this fuccefs, 
bound therafelves by an oath not to return, till they had 
rcfcued the holy city of Jerufalem, from the Infidels. Ac- 
cordingly, having pafTed mount Taurus, they reduced the 
cities of Mare f] a and Artafia; and marehing from tbelat- 
ter, but fifteen miles diftant frqm Antioch, they en- 
camped before that famous metropolis on the twenty-firft 
of Odober, 1097. 
Antioch he* As the place was ftiongly fortified, and garrifoned with 
jieged and feven thoufand horfe, and twenty thoufand foot, the fiegc 
taken. continued to the third of June, when Pyrrhus, who had, 
in appearance, embraced the Mohammedan fuperftition to 
fave his edate, and was entrufted with the defence of a 
tower, called the Two Sifters, betrayed the city to Bobe- 
mond : his men entering in the night, opened the gates 
to the reft of the army, who, furprifing the Turks before 
they could put them fe Ives in a pofture of defence, made a 
terrible (laughter. Caffianus the governor, with foipe others, 
found means to make his efcape ; but fell foon after into 
the hands of the Armenian Chriftians, by whom he was 
(lain. While the Chriftians were engaged in the fiege of 
Antioch, Corbenus, one of the fultan of Perfia's generals, 
attacked Edefla with a powerful army *, but Baldwin, to 
whom the place had fubmitted fome months before, gave 
bim fuch a warm reception, that he abandoned the enter- 
prize, and marched to the relief of Antioch. Being in- 
formed on his march, that the city was taken, he refolved 
neverthelefs.to venture a battle, in hopes of recovering it; 
7he Turks but was totally defeated, having loft, as we are told, a 
defeased hundred thoufand, partly killed and partly^taken prifoners; 
ajuTAu'^^ whereas of the Chriftians only four thoufand two hundred 
^^ ^' fell. This memorable battle was fought on the twcnty- 
feventh of June, 1098 ; and next day the Turks, who ftill 
defended the caftle of Antioch, defpairing of relief, fubmit- 
ted, and were made prifoners. Thjs Chriftians, thus be- 
come mafter§ of AntiocbjL chofc^ with one con(c9t, Bobe- 

mond 



The'ConJtantinopolitan Hifiory^ 149- 

mond prince of that metropolis, not thinking himfelf 
bound by the late treaty, fince Alexius had, contrary to 
agreement, under rarious pretences, declined affording 
them the leaft ailiftance. However, they fe»t Hugh, bro- 
ther to Philip king of France, and Baldwin earl of Hainault, 
to give the emperor an account of their fuccefs, and prefs . 
him to' join them with all their forces, purfuant to the 
treaty ; but the earl of Hi^inault was never afterwards feen 
or heard of, whence he was generally believed to have been 
murdered by the emperor's orders. Hugh got fafe to Con- 
flantinople ; but, inftead of returning to the princes with an 
account of his embafly, he departed for France ; whence 
fome writers fpeak much to his difadvantage, infinuatin^ 
that he was bribed by the emperor to abandon the enter- 
prize. The emperor had indeed at this time a ju(l exciUe 
for not joining the weftcrn princes ; for Tangripermes^, a 
Turkifli pirate, having feized on the cities of Smyrna and 
Ephefus, and reduced the iftands of Rhodes and Chios^ in- 
fcftcd the coafts of the empire, committing the moft dread- 
ful ravages. The emperor fent a confiderable fleet and 
army againft him ; which arriving at Smyrna, beiieged that 
city by fea and land, and having reduced it, marched to 
Ephefus; which was likewife forced to fubmit, Tangri- 
pernnes having been defeated, with great flaughter, in that 
neighbourhood. 

The viftory gained by the emperor's forces was followed 
by the furrender of Philadelphia, Laodicea, and other n^a- 
ritime cities of importance. Alexius, elated with this fuc- ^r.^f FU 
cefs, laid claim to Antioch, and fent ambaiTadors to Bobe- 344*» 
mond, requiring him to deliver up that city to its lawful u^'r^I* 
owner. Bohemond was fo incenfed at this demand, that, ^ * 

inftead of complying with it, he in his turn claimed, as ^ ^ar be* 
prince of Antioch, the city of Laodicea, and difpatched a tween A* 
confiderable body of forces, under the conduft of his ne- itxius and 
phew Tancred, to take it by force •, which they did accoid- ^^f}'^^^^* 
ingly, reducing at the fame time fevcral other forts in Cili- jtitmk, 
cia, belonging to the emperor. Provoked by thefe hoftili- j 

ties, Alexius, having caufed a formidable fleet to be equip- 
ped with all pofiible expedition, refolved to intercept the 
fupplies which the weftern princes, efpecially the bifhop of 
Pifa, were preparing for the fupport of the Cbriftians in j 

the £aft, till fuch time as; they had reftored to the empire 
the dtics they bad takeo fcom.the Turks. Of this fleet 'I'atiT 
ejus was appointed admiral, who meeting that of the wef- 
tern priocibs nearr Rhodes, attacked them, and obtained a 
jfomplete viftory ; but was himfelf ovcrtakcn,'in his return 

J- 3 . to ^ 



I5« 






BohimonJ 
laysfiegt to 



A peace 
<oHcluded* 



The Confianttnopolitan It^ory* 

> 

to Conftantinopfe, by a violent ftormi which deftroTcd the 
greater part of his fleet. 

After this expedition, the emperor ordered Cantacttzenu$| 
oife of his generals, to befiege Laodicea ; which, notwith- 
{landing the fupplies Bohemond, with much difficulty, 
threw into it, was at length obliged to fubmit. The prince 
of Antioch, finding be had not fufficien: ftrength at pre- 
fent to contend with the emperor, either by fea or land, left 
a ftrong garrifon in Antiach, and pailed undifcovered into 
Italy, with a defign to levy frefli forces there, and to return 
early in the fpring into the Eaft. Alexius, acquainted with 
his defign, ordered his admiral, Contoftephanus, to cruize 
on the coaAs of Italy, and prevent Bohemond's fleet from 
pafling into the Bad ; but Contoftephanus, departing from 
his inftru£tions, made a defcent, and laid (iege to Brundtt- 
(ium \ which, however, he was obliged to raife, bis men 
being repulfed with great flaughter by the inhabitants. A- 
mong the prifoners taken on this occaflon, were fix Scy- 
thians, whom Bohemond carried to the pope, telling him, 
that, with the affiftance of fuch Infidels and Barbarians, 
Alexius endeavoured to ftop 'the progrefs of the Chriftian 
princes in the Eaft ; a circumftance whjch inflamed both 
the pope and the people jigainft him to fuch a degree, that 
ihultitudes crowded daily to Bohemond, defiring to be em- 
ployed againft a prince whom they confidered as an avow- 
ed enemy to the Chriftian name. 

Bohemond, having by thefe means foon railed a power- 
ful army, pafled over into lllyricum ; and landing without 
oppofition in the neighbourhood of Dyrracbium, encamp- 
ed before that important place, after having caufed his fleet 
to be burnt in the fight of the whole army, that feeing there 
were no means of making their efcape, they might fight 
the more courageoufly, and place their fafety in vifliory 
alone. As the place was defended by a numerous garrifon, 
and fupplied with great plenty of provifions^ it made a vi- 
gorous defence, and held out till Bohenusnd's army being 
reduced to the utmoft extremity for want of neceflaries^ 
that haughty prince began to liften to the propofals that 
were made him for putting a period to the war. After fe- 
veral conferences between hini and the emperor's minifters^ 
a peace was concluded, upon terms equally honourable to 
both princes. The war berag thus ended, Bohemond re« 
turned to Italy, according to Anna Comnena ^ \ but accord* 

. • Ann. Comn. lib. si. cap. 6. h Hb« xi. csp. i, a, 3. Gljc Aiwal* 
Kb. iii* 2!fomr« in Alex. 

isg 



The CotffianitnopoUtah Hifiory. 151 

Sng to others he proceeded to Antioch,^here; we aretold^ 
he died fix months after. Alexius^ being difengaged from 
this war, marrched in perfon againft the Turks, who, re- 
newing their incur^ons, had laid the country wafte to the 
very walls of Nice ; and coming up with them in the neigh* 
bourhood of that city, defeated them with great flaughter. 
However, the Turks returned the following year ; but were, 
in feTcral fucceffive battles, vanquiflied and put to flight by 
the emperor's lieutenants, Alexius himfelf being prevented 
by the gout, and other diftempers, that ufually attend old 
age, from heading his army in perfon. 

The Turks, diipirlted by the great lofles they had fuftain- Alexius 
cd, ferit to fue for peace 5 which was readily granted by "»^^«'^'^'.^ 
the emperor, who henceforth never appeared more in the /^^nJ^J/. 
field, but fpent the remaining part of his life in endeavour- 
ing to heal the divifions, which at that time rent the Greek 
church. Being feized with a violent cold, he died in the Yr« of Fl* 
year 1 1 14, the thirty-feventh of his reign p. There is a 3463. 
great difagreement among authors, touching the charafter A.D.iii4« 
of this prince, the Greek hiftorians, efpecially his daughter ''^^^^ 
Antxa Comhena, painting him as the beft of princes ; and ^/j ^g^th 
thofe who have written the hiftory of the holy war, repre- andtha^ 
fenting him as the worfl:. However, it is agreed on all raBn^ 
hands, that he was a man of great addrefs and penetration, 
endowed with uncommon parts, and the beft ftatefman of 
his time. He was grateful, generous, and liberal, as ap- 
pears from his behaviour to his brother, and the reft of his 
friends, who had been inftrumental in his advancement to 
the throne ; for on them he heaped fuch wealth, as drained 
the treafury ; fo that to carry on the war with tbe Turks, 
he was forced to feize on the ryches of the churches and 
monafteries \ a circumftance which has induced fome ec- 
clefiaftic writers to reprefent him in the blackeft colours. 
He feems to have been i. ftranger to cruelty ; for though 
many confpiracies were formed againft him during the long 
courfe of his reign, yet we read of no other punifhment 
infii£led even on the chief authors of them, befides banifli- 
ment, or the confifcation of their eftates. His behaviour 
to the weftern princes may in fome degree be excufed, from 
the jealoufy he entertained of them, efpecially of Bohe- 
mond, his old enemy, which prompted him rather to op- 
]^fe and weaken, than ailift.them in an undertaking, he 
aipprehcnded, might at laft'end in his own ruin, as well as 
in that' of the commofl enemy. 

p Ann. Comncn. Hb. xv. cap. ib, 11, is. 

L 4 During 



»5* 



Johannes 
Comnenus, 



Yr.ofFl. 

A.B. 1115. 
U.C* 1^64. 

His wars 
njuilh the 
Turks I 



nvith the 
Scythians^ 
the Servii, 
and the 
Hunnsm 



7%e ConJlantint>p6lttan £RJiory. 

During his ficknefty he was earaeftly folicited by the em- 
prefs, and his daughter Anne, to exclude his own fon John 
from the fucceffion, and bequeath the empire to ficyennius^ 
the hufband of Anne \ but the emperor, deaf to their foliar 
citations, declared John his fucceflqr, who was thereupon 
faluted emperor by the people, as foon as the death of A- 
lexius was known, and a few days after crowned in the 
great church by the patriarch. He had fcarce taken pof-* 
feffion of the imperial throne, when fome of his neareft re- 
lations, at the inftigation of Anne, confpired againft him, 
in order to depofe him, and place Bryennius in his room ; 
but the conTpiracy being timely difcovered, the confpirators 
were immediately feized, tried, and convi£led. However, 
the humane emperor did not fufFer them to be otherwife 
puniHied than by confifcating their eftates, which he foon 
after reftored, receiving into favour all thofe who, with 
his fifter Anne, had given life to the confpiracy. He after^ 
wards removed from court fuch as he had reafon to f ufpe^, 
appointing none to fucceed them but perfons of known pro^ 
bity and diftinguiihed charaders 1. 

In the fecond year of his reign, the Turks, an breach of 
the treaty lately concluded with his father, invaded Phry- 
gia ; but the emperor, marching againft them in perfon, 
overthrew them in feveral engagements ; and having reco- 
vered the cities they had taken in Cilicia, and among the 
reft Laodicea, he invefted SozopoHs, a ftrong town in Pam-« 
ghylia, which he took by ftraiageiti. The Turks, alarmed 
at the fuccefs that attended his arms, renewed the peace 
which they had concluded with his father Alexius. In con- 
fequence of this accommodation, the emperor returned in 
triumph to Conftantinople, where he had not been long, 
when news were brought him, that the Scythians, having 
paffed the Danube, and broken into Thrace, were ravaging 
the country with fire and fword. The emperor, at the head 
of his army, falling upon the Barbarians before they could 

Eut themfelvesin a pofture of defence, cut incredible num- 
crs ia pieces, took many prifoners, and obliged the reft 
to fave themfelves beyond the Danube. He then turned 
his viSorious arms, firft againft the Servii, whom he eafily 
fubdued, and afterwards againft the Hunns, who had in-, 
vaded the empire, but were driven beyond the Danube with 
great flaughter. The emperor, crofting that river, carried 
the war into their country ; and having taken feveral of 
f heir ftrong places, and forced them to conclude a peace 



9 Nicet. lib. i. cap. u 



VPOfl 



The Confiantinopolitah Hijiory. 153 

Upon his own terms, returned the fecond time in triumph 
to Conftantinople '. ^ 

While the emperor was thus employed againft the Bar- 
barians, the Turks, without any regard to the late treaty, 
fuddenly entered Galatia and Cilicift, and made themfelves 
mafters of feveral cities in thofe two prpvinces. The em-^ 
peror, therefore, having allowed his men a few days to re- • 
frefli themfelves at Conftantinople, led them afterwards 
into the Eaft, where he foon conquered all Armenia j driv- Hi re* 
ing the Turks every-where before him. The caftle of Baca, coven Ar* 
and the cities of Caftamona, Anazarba, Serep, Capharda, «^«'«' 
lilrla, and Sezer, made a vigorous refiftance ; but were at 
laft obliged to fubmit. However, having laid fiege to Be- • 
rcca in Syria, he was forced by the numerous garrifon to 
raife it, and drop that enterprize. On his return he w;a» 
reconciled to his brother Ifaac, who, in the beginning of 
his reign, having taken fome difguft, had fled to the Turks, 
and aflifted them with his advice in all their undertakings 
again ft the Chriftians. Soon after John,. Ifaac's fon, de- 
ferted to the enemy, and renouncing the Chriftian religion, 
embraced the fuperftjtion 'of Mohammed. The emperor, 
having confumed three years in the Eaft, and recovered from 
the Turks the feveral cities and fortrefles which they had 
lately taken, returned to Conftantinople, where he was re- 
ceived with the greateft demonftrations of joy. 

Having fettled his domeftic affairs, be refolved to return 
once more into the Eaft. Accordingly he began his marclj 
early in the fpring of the year 1 137> attended by his three 
fons, Alexius, Andronicus, and Manuel, publiftiing, that 
he had nothing elfe in view but to fecure his conquefts in 
Armenia, and confirm the cities, that had lately fubmitted. 
to him, in their obedience ; biit his real defign was to re- Yr. of Fl. 
cover, if poffible, the city of Antioch, poflefled by the La- 34^6- 
tins, and reunite that (lately metropolis to the empire, u C "gl? 
Soon after he had left Conftantinople, his two eldeft fons, * 
Alexius and Andronicus, died in the prime of their years. He forms a 
to the inexpreilible grief of the afflifted father, who was dejign of 
ready to fink under the weight of fo unexpedled a calamity, recoyering 
However, he purfued his march, and entering Syria, ac- /"''*J!t 
quainted the inhabitants of Antioch with his arrival, who latins, 
fpnt fome of. the chief men in the city to meet him. But 
when he approached, they refufed to admit him within the 
gates, till he had folemnly fworn he would attempt no in- 
novation, but quietly depart, after a ihort ftay in the city. 
fie had n^ntertained hopes of corrupting the citizens, and. 

r Nici^t. lib. i. cap. s<r5t 

t>7 



»54 



td with a 
f^finid 



Yr. of Fl. 

A.D.II39* 

U.C. i«88. 

Hediiu 



Mannel 
Lomntnus, 



his war 
ivtth the 
Turkj, 



The Con/iaHtifU^Uum Htfiary. 

by thde means making hinifelf mafter of the dty ; but find*- 
ing them inviolably attached to the Latins, he retired in a 
great rage, ordering his foldiers at their departure to plun- 
der the fuburbs. 

From Antioch he dire^led his march to Cilicia, wbere^ 
while he was one day hunting, he was accidentally wounded 
tn the hand with a poifoned arrow, which he carried in his 
ifuiver. Though the wound was flight, yet, as the proper 
remedies were not applied in time, it caufed fucb a fwelling 
in his arm, that the phyficians advifed amputation \ but he 
peremptorily refufing to fubmit to it, the ftrength of the 
poifon prevailed to fuch a degree, that he was in a ihort 
time brought to the point of death ; when, fummoning the 
chief nobility to his chamber, he named in their prefence 
his youngeft fon Manuel to fuccecd him, as better qualified 
in every refpe£k for that eminent ftation than his other fbn 
Ifaac. In confequence of this nomination Manuel was im- 
mediately proclaimed and acknowleged emperor by the no- 
bility and the chief officers of the army, who bound them- 
felves by afolemn oath to obey no other. The emperor 
died foon after, on the eighth of April, 1139, having reign- 
ed twenty-four years and eight months. It is remarkable 
that be put none to death during the whole time of his 
reign ; whence he was no lefs beloved by his fubjeds for 
his humanity and clemency, than feared oythe enehiies ei 
the empire on account of his courage, experience in war, 
s|^d the fuccefs that attended him in all his expeditions *. 

The emperor no fooner expired than Manuel difpatched 
Axuchus, who had been prime minifler to his father, to 
Conftantinople, with orders to fecure Ifaac ; who Was ac- 
cordingly feized before he had time to afTert his right to the 
empire, and confined to a monaflery. Soon after the new 
emperor arrived -, and being received with loud acclama- 
tions by the people, who hated Ifaac, he was crowned with 
great folemnitvTjy the patriarch. Having fettled his domeftic 
affilirs, and reieafed his brother Ifaac, upon hispromifing to 
attempt nib innovations during his abfence, he went into Afia 
at the head of a powerful army, and having recovered fc- 
veral cities in Phrygia, lately taken by the Turks, he ia- 
Ttfted Iconium y but not being able to make himfelf mafter 
of that important place, he returned to Conftantinople, 
leaving fufficient garrifons in the frontier-towns to reftrain 
the incurfions of ^t Turks. During his refidence ia the 
imperial city he married Gertrude, fifter-1n4aw fd Conrade^ 
Ae German emperor } but fiiglkting her^ thoiigh endowed 



* Nicet, ea^. 7— u« 



with 



The Conftantiiwpolitan Hifiory. i^^ 

with every perfe&ion defirable in a perfon of her fex and 
quality, he maintained a criminal converfation with his 
own niece Theodora^ which greatly eftranged the minds of 
his people from him. 

But nothing has rendered his name more odious to pof- yr. of FI, 
terity than his treacherous behaviour to the weftern princes ; 3495. 
for having promifed tofupplythe army of Conrade, who, A.D.ii46. 
in the year 1 146, undertook an expedition into the Holy ^'^' '^95> 
Land, with forage and provifions, inftead of performing his mnna' 
promife he caufed the countries through which they were chirous ii* 
to pafs to be laid wafte, and the. gates of the towns to be Aavhtrtp 
fliut ; aiid we are told, ^hat the Greeks, infpired by the '^' w^- 
emperor with an irreconcileable hatred to thofe adventurers, ^^^^ 
mixed the flour they fold them with quick-lime, which oc- ^^ '* 
cafioned a dreadful mortality in the Chriftian army« Be- 
fides, the emperor privately acquainted Mamut, fultan of 
Iconium in Afia Minor, with the defigns of Conrade and 
the other princes. In confequence of this intelligence the 
fultan, aflembling all the princes of his nation, a formid- 
able army was raifed in defence of their common intereft, 
^nd fent to prote£i: their. ten itories, before the Chriftian 
princes were in a condition to attack them. By this pre- 
caution the defigns of the weftern princes were defeated, 
and an army^ which ot^erwife might have eafily triumphed 
over all the Eaft, was in a great meafure deftroyed ^ 

Roger, king of Sicily, inceafed at Manuel's treachery, jjis nuan 
took advantage of fome difturbances raifed by the inhabit- wth R§* 
ants of Corcyra, who thought themfelves opprefled by too S^,^^H •/ 
heavy exa£^ions, and fubdued that ifland. From thence he ^^-^^ 
failed to Corinth, which he likewife took and pundered, with 
Thebes, and moft of the principal cities of Boeotia. Thus 
infulted, Manuel, having aflembled all the forces of the em- 
pire, and equipped a numerous fleets declared war againft 
Koger and the Sicilians ; which he began with the (iege of 
Corcyra, now Corfu. The beGeged defended the place with 
incredible bravery ; but being exhaufted with repeated at- 
tacks, they furrendered ,upon honourable terms. In this 
fiege the emperor, who commanded his troops in perfon, 
loft an incredible number of men, and among the' reft Ste- 
phen, one of his chief officers. However, elated with his. 
fuccefs, he refolve^ to carry the war into Sicily itfelf ; but, 
was overtaken by a violent ftorm, in which feveral of his 
fliips were loft, and himfelf driven, with moft of the tran» 
fports, to Aulon. Being informed, during his ftay in this 
place, that the Servians had broken into the neighbouring 

* 

t Nicct ia MsJMieli libt i« cap. i —4. 

provinces^ 



156 



A peaci 

€oncluded 
het*ijUten 
thg two 
frintes* 



Manuel 
reduced to 
great 
Jlraits by 
the Turiji 



A peace 
concluded 
nviih the 
fultan. 



The Conftantinopolitan Hiftory. 

provinces, he marched againft them in perfon, committing 
the management of the Sicilian war to Michael Palseologus. 
Manuel gained great advantages over the Servians, though 
ailiiled by the Hungarians, whom he likewifc overcame in 
levcral battles; and carrying the war into their country, 
took and rafed fome of their chief towns, and then return- 
ed to Conftantinople loaded with booty. Palseologus march- 
ed into Calabria, where he frequently defeated Roger's 
forces; and continued ravaging the country, till, by the me- 
diation of the pope, a peace was concluded between the 
two princes. 

The emperor, difengaged from this war, took a progrefs 
into the Eaft, being in every place received in a friendly 
manner, and entertained with flicws and feftivals, by the 
weftern princes, notwithftandinghis unaccountable and trea- 
cherous behaviour towards them. On his return, he was 
attacked by the Turks, who killed many of his men, and 
took part of his baggage. To revenge this outrage, the em- 
peror, after a fhort flay at Conftantinople, pafled into Afia, 
at the head of a very numerous and powerful army ; which 
ftruck the fultan with fuch terror, that he fued for peace, 
offering to conclude it upon fuch terms as the emperor him- 
felf fliould judge proper. But Manuel adhering to the young 
and unexperienced officers, who, impelled by falfe courage, 
declared with great warmth for war, the offers of the fultan 
were rejecEled, and the ambaffadors difmiffed with this 
haughty anfwer, that the emperor would come and let him 
know his pleafure at Iconium, which was the metropolis 
of the Turkifh empire in Afia Minor. The fultan, finding 
a war unavoidable, feized on the narrow paiTes of Zibrica, 
through which the emperor's army was to march, and at- 
tacking him as foon as he entered the flfeights, made a 
dreadful havock with fhowers of arrows from the moun- 
tains and broken cliffs. The Romans attempted to retire ; 
but their retreat being cut" off by a flrong detachment of 
Turks, ported at the entrance of th« ftreights, they were 
forced to purfue their march. In the mean time, night com- 
ing on, the Turks, who were well acquainted with the coun- 
try, poffeffed themfelves of all the defiles ; fo that the Ro- 
mans found themfelves, when light appeared, hemmed in 
on every fide, without being able either to retire or advance. 

In this condition, while they looked upon themfelves as 
lofl, the fultan, to the great furprize of the emperor and 
the whole army, fent to Manuel one of his chkf officers^ 
named Gabras, with propofals of 'peace ; which he imme^ 
diately figned, to the inexpreffible joy of the whol^ army, 
whp purfued their march unmolefted to Chbnas, where the 



57v Conftantinopolitm Hifiory^ i^j 

emperor diilributed what money he had with him among 
the foldiers^ and then proceeded to Philadelphia, in which 
city he continued till his wbunds were cured. One of the 
' conditions of the peace was, that the fortifications^of Dory- 
Iseum and Subleumv in Afia Minor, (hould be rafed. This 
the emperor, refcued from danger, refufed to perform, al- 
leging, that what had beep extorted from him by force was 
not binding. The fultan, exafperated at this anfwer, fent TAiTarh 
a body of twenty-four thoufand chofen men, under the con- ''^^^ '/'* 
du£l of Atapacus, to lay wafle all Phrygia ; which they ra- ^'"P^''f ^' 
vaged with the utmoft barbarity, fparing. neither fex nor tr^^enty^ 
age : but the emperor's forces engaging them as they were four thoum 
croffing the Mseander on their return, cut them oflF to a man, /and of 
and recovered the whole booty ". The Turks were fo dif- ^^^^^* 
heartened by this overthrow, that they continued quiet the ^^^ ^^' 
remaining part of Manuel's reign, who, having no wars to 
employ his thoughts, turned them to religious matters, and 
by endeavouiing to introduce and eftabliih heterodox opi- 
nions, raifed great difturbances and divifions m the church, 
fome of the prelates being excited by intereft to embrace Yv, of FU 
and maintain the dodrine he had broached, and others im« 3516. 
pugning it with great warmth. Among the latter was £u- A.D. 1177* 
fiatbius, archbifhop of Theflalonica, famous for his learned ^'^' '5»^- 
comments on Homer. But. the death of the emperor ter- 7J 7"^ 
minated thefe difputes. He was taken ill in March, 1 177, ^^^^^ 
and died in the following 3eptember, having near com- 
pleted the tjiirty-eightii year of his reign. Some time ber. 
fore bis death, he took the mbnaftic habit, hoping to atone 
for the debaucheries to which he had abandoned himfelf 
in times of peace ^. 

He was fucceeded by his fon Alexius Comnenus ; but he Alexius 
being only -twelve years old, his mother affiiming the ad- Comnintiu 
miniltration, and governing with abfolute authority, fuffered 
the young prince to indulge himfelf in his pleafures and di» 
verfions, in order to difqualify him for applying to afiairs of 
ftate. The miniders, whom the emprefs employed, made 
it their chief ftudy to enrich themfelves at the expence-of 
the public, the emprefs herfelf having nothing elfe in view 
but to fill her coffers. Public affairs being thus entirely- 
neg]e£led, while every one (ludied his private intereft, the 
Turks, who neglefted no opportunity of enlarging their 
territories, breaking into the empire, reduced Sozopolis, 
and feveral other important places in Phrygia. This pro- 
grefs of the Infidels raifed in the people a general diflike to 
^e prefent adminiflration ; which being obferved by An- 

■ Nicet* lib. Vi. cap. 1—^ ^ Ibid, lihu vl cap. 6, 7, 

dronicus> 



X58 ^^ ConJlaniinopoUtan Hifiory^ 

> 
AHdrm- ^^^nicuso vho was coufin-^erman to the late emperor, ^and 
€UA revoitsp had long afpired to the empire, be thought this the moft 
proper time to attempt the obtaining of what he fo ardently 
wifiied for. Accordingly, as he was generally beloved on 
account of his inii^iuating and popular behaviour, he left 
Oeneum, to which place he had been confined by the late 
emperor ; and moving with his friends and dependents to* 
andmarck" wards Conftantinople, pretended that he had nothing elfe 
€s towards in view but to reform the abufes of the ftate, to aflert the 
Confian- imperial dignity, to redreis the grievances of the people, 
t^^p '• and refcue the young prince out of the hands of thofe wiio, 
in a moil (hameful manner, abufed his authority, to the op- 
preilion of the people they were bound to proteft. He was 
received by the credulous people as their deliverer and de- 
fender; and foeh multitudes crowded to him from all parts, 
that none dared to oppofe him, till he entered Bithynia, 
where the governors of Nice and Nicomediafhut their gates 
againft him, as a public enemy. However, he purfued his 
march to a caftle called CharacC) where he was oppofed by 
a body of the imperial troops, commanded by Andronicus 
Angdus, whom he put to flight ; and advancing with long 
marches towards Conftantinople, encamped at a fmall di£ 
tance from Chalcedon, in fight of the imperial city. The 
emprefs had committed the whole management of afiairs to 
Alexius, then prefident of the council, with whom flte was 
thought to be more familiar than was confiftent with her 
honour. 

As Alexius hoped by her means to be advanced to the 
imperial dignity, .he left nothing unattempted to defeat the 
defigns of Andronicus j but being univerfally dctefted by the 
people, for his tyrannical and arbitrary government, the 
ne army troops he had raifed deferted to Andronicus, and the fleet, 
andfUit which was committed to the condu£t of Qontoftephanus^ 
revolt to fpllowed their example. The people, aflembling in a tu- 
*"*• multuous manner, with repeated acclamations declared An- 

dronicus guardian of the young prince, fet at liberty his two 
fons, John and Manuel, whom Alexius had thrown into 
prifon, and feizing on Alexius himfelf, carried him in mock 
triumph to the fea-fide, attended with the fcoflfs and curfes 
of the enraged multitude, and thence conveyed him in a 
fmall boat to Andronicus, who, after having expofed him 
to the infults of the whole army, caufed his eyes to be pulled 
out. Andronicus, paffing the ftreights, waited on the em- 
peror, who was then with the emprefs his mother, at a 
royal feat in the country \ and being immediately admitted^ 
to his prefence, fell on the ground, from a pretended re- 
fpe£t to his princei repeating feveral texts of fcripture, 

adapted 



^ fhe CgnftantikopoUtan HiUcty, ig^ 

^dapte4 to the prefent purpofe. He fgluted the emprelt 
vrith a coldnefs which fu£Bciently betrayed the averfion hA 
bore her. paving reinaine4 fpme dsiys with the emperor, ffg I, rtm 
he made his entry into the city, amidft the fiioots and ac- teiveddt 
plantations of the people, and was with one voice declared Cp«5^«»- 
and acknowleged the proteftor of the empire, during thft ^^^'/"^ 
minority of young Alexius. But, notwithftanding the ty- «r«itf^r 
rannical cohdudl of Alexius the. prefident, the citizens of oftktm^ 
Conftantinople had foon occafion to repent of the change, /'V*^ 
there being no kind of cruelty which the protedor did not 
pradlife upon the unhappy people, without diftin£tioa of 
fex or condition* Some were deprived of their fight, others 
bani(bed, and many inhumanlymurdered, influenced by fome 
private grudge, or becaufe they feemed attached to the young 
prince. Among the reft Mary, daughter to the late empe<* 
ror, who had be^n very in(lrumental in the late revolution, 
and her hufba<vl Manuel, Andronicus's own fon, were poi<9 
foned by the tyrant's orders. He caufed the emprefs to be * 
accufed of treafon, aflerting (he had by letters invited Bela 
king of the I^i^ngarians, her brother*in-law, to invade the 
empire. Upon this groundlefs charge ihe was tried, found 
guilty, no ope during to of pofe the tyrant's pleafure, and 
Shortly after ftrangled by Pterigionites the eunuch* Soon 
after her death the tyrant, pretending a great tendernei^ and 
unfhaj^en fidelity fpr the young prince, caufed him to be f(H 
lemnly crowned by the patriarch ; but took care at the fame 
time to enlarge, in an eloquent fpeech, on the dangers thai 
threatened the empire, and required, he faid, a perfoAof 
wifdom and experience to avert them* 

He had np fooner dpne fpeaking than his friends crying Madic^U 
out aloud} ^8 had b^en agreed on beforehand, ** Iiong live 5^*' '* 
Alexius and Andr onicus, Roman emperors !'* the whole mul* ^^xtiu, 
titttde faluted hin) with the title of emperor, and placed him^ 
\(rith the cpnfent and approbation, of Alexius, on the impe^ 
rial throne. He (lijl pretended great averfion to this dignity^ 
and, upon receiving the ho]y eucharift at his coronation, liit«i 
ing his eye^ up tQ hi^aven, he folemnly fwore by that vener- 
able myftery, that he took upon him the fovereignty for na -- ^ i, 
other end, h^t t<?» protedi the young emperor, and fupport * ^^, 
hia authority, Notwithftanding this oath, as he had no«r A.D iiSo. 
bpth the emperor and the empire in his power, he refolved U.C.i9»9, 

^few days after to difpatch his colleague, and take the whole — 

government iuto hi§ pwn hands, rurfuant to this wicked '"'^^ ^ 
r^folutipn. Sc/§phanHJ? Hagiochriftophoritcs, with fomc JJIJj^^ 
others, entering, by the tyrant's orders, the unhappy prince's 
chamber in the nighty ftrangled hin with a baw-ftring. Such 

was 



|6o The Coriftantinopolitan Hijlo^y. 

was the miferable end of Alexius II. in the third year of hit 
reign^ and fifteenth of his life '^. 
Anirom- Andronicus, now fole matter of the empire, made it his 

^*<« chief ftudy to eilablifli the authority he had ufurped, raging 

without diftin£tion again (I perfons of all ranks> whom he 
imagined in the lead afFeded to Manuel's family, or capable 
iiU etuil of revenging his death. No day palfed without feme bloody 
aMdiyran' execution; infomuch that in a (hort time the flower of the 
nical cw nobility was entirely cut off, the mercilefs tyrant complain- 
^ ing at the fame time of the feverity of the law, which did 

ftot allow him to (hew pity to fo many dcferving men. Some 
however found means to make their efcape, and among the 
psft Ifaac Comnenus, Manuel's kinfman ; who, taking re- 
fuge in Cyprus, made himfelf mafter of that ifland, and is 
faid to have exceeded even Andronicus himfelf in all man- 
Yr. of Fl. ner of barbarities. Alexius Comnenus, brother to the late 
353'' emperor Manuel, fled to Sicily ; and having perfuaded Wil- 
A.D. nSi. lij^ng^ V\n^ of that ifland, to make war upon Andronicus, he 
^ ^ ' attended him to Dyrrachium, which city the king foon re- 
William duced. Marching from thence into Macedon, he laid wafte 
king of Si' that province without oppofltion, and in veiled TheflTalonica, 
eily^ifi' where his fleet had been ordered to attend him. The city 
'oadfsAts ^^g taken by ftorm, after a few days fiege, through the in- 
dolence and cowardice of the governor, and with the utmoft 
erueity plundered by the Sicilians, who, without diftindion 
of £ex of age, put all the inhabitants to the fword, not fpar- 
ing even thofe who had taken refuge in the churches. An- 
dronicus, having aifembled his troops,ordered them to march, 
undet the conduft of generals in whom he could confide, 
againft the enemy r but they were defeated and put to flight at 
the firfl attack; a circumilance which infpired the Sicilians 
with fuch courage, that they conlidered themfelves as already 
V^afters of the imperial city. In thejrnean time the tyrant, 
finding the ti umber of the malecontents encreafedat home, 
in proportion to the fuccefs of the enemy abroad, betrayed 
more cruelty than ever, not fparing even his own favour- 
ites, who had been hitherto the executioners of his tyranny 
againfl others. 

Among thofe who were deftined to flaughter, was Ifaac 

Angelas, a perfon of great diflinftioit, defcended from one 

of the moft ancient families in Conflantinople. Hagiochrif- 

tophorites, Andronicus's prime miniiter, was ordered io 

Ifiac An- feize him ; but Ifaac, having killed the aflTaflin with his ovyn 

f^ltii takes ihand, efcaped to a church, whither he was followed by jiis 

refUgi tn a 

church^ ^ . « NicetinA!cx.Comiien.cap. j-^ifi- 

unclc 



t. •• 



The CqnJtantinopoUt(m Ij^iory. i^f 

uncie John Ducas^ bis fon If^ac^ and feveral otlier peribx^ 
of the £r& quality. As Ifaac was gc^nerally beloved^ on acr 
count of his popular and engaging bebav^our^ multitudes of 
people flocked from all parts of the city tp JCee him in bi^ 
afyium. Andronicus being then abfent from the city^ Ifaac 
embraced that opportunity to excite the populace agaiuQ: 
him; an attempt in which he fueceeded fo efre<^ually, that^ 
on a day appointed, they crowded to the church of St. Sor 
phia, apd> with one voice, faluted Ifaac emperor, declaring // pro* 
at the fam? time Andronicus a public enemy. The tyrant^ claimed 
inforc»e4 of what bad happened in the city, and defpairing ^^P^^tm 
of being able to appeafe the enraged multitude, fled to Me- 
ludium, a royal palace on the ea(t iide of the Fropontia, and 
from thence at;temptexl to efcape into Scythia; but being fe- 
deral times driven back by contrary winds, and purfued, a$ 
it were, by divine vengeance, he was apprehended^ and pre* Andrwltus 
fented in chains to Ifaac j who, having caufed his right- takentand 
fcand to be cut ofi^, and one of his eyes to be pulled out, de- ^^'^'^(y ^or* 
livered him to the enraged populace, from whom he fufFered X"i^*J^f 
indignities anfwcrable to the injuries with which he had pro- i^a. 
voked them. Having led him in triumph through the mod 
frequented (Ireets of the city on a camel, with Eis face to- 
wards the tail, amidft the reproaches and infults of the in- 
cenfed multitude, they hung him up naked by the feet be- 
tween two pillars, cut off his private partSi and tormented 
him for three days together. He bore with invincible cou- Yr. of Fl. 
rage all the torments the incenfed and relentlefs mob could I5>ft* 
infli£l upon him, fometimes repeating, " Lord, have mercy ^p "^J* 
upon me !" and fometimes addreffing the multitude with '^^** 

thefe words, " Why do you break a bruifed reed i*^ At hniurdtr^ 
length oncj touched with compaflion at the fight of an ob- id. 
jeft, which might have drawn tears from cruelty itfelf, by a 
piortal wound in his throat, put an end at the fame time Xm 
his life and torments, after he had lived feventy-three yearSj 
and reigned two J^. He was the laft emperor of the Comne- 
Oian family. 

Ifaac^ thus raifed to the imperial dignity, gained, in the I/omAm* 
ocgioning of his reign, the afFecStions of his fubjeSs, by his ^r/«/« 
lenity and moderation, not only recalling and reftoring to 
wir eftates thofe who had been baniihed by Andronicus^ 
hut relieving fev^ral decayed families out of his private eftatc, 
Whei;i he thought himfelf fufficiently eftablifhed on the 
wrouc, he detached the flower of the army, undqr the con- 
Qttd of Br,anas, an officer of great experience, againft the Si- 
ciliansj who, being fiirprifed as they were roving about ihp 

y Nicct. in Andronic. lib. i. cap. ^-^li. 

Vw*.XV. M country 



1 62 fhe Conftanttnopolitan Hiftory. 

Hi deftau country in qucft of plunder, were defeated, and cut off al- 
tkt Sici' moft to a man, either by the emperor's troops or the natives^ 
^«'' whom they had provoked by their barbarities. Their fleets 

confining of two hundred fail, on their return home, being 
difperfed by a violent ftorm, moft of their (hips were taken 
by the emperor's admiral, and great numbers of prifoners 
fent to Conftantinople, where moft of them periihed with 
famine, the emperor, who was naturally addi£ked to crueltyi 
not fuffering them to be relieved even with bread and water. 
Having thus terminated the Sicilian war, he refolved to drive, 
if poflible, Ifaac Comnenus out of Cyprus, where he op- 
prefled the inhabitants in a moft tyrannical manner. 

For this purpofc lie equipped a numerous fleet, which he 
fent tinder the command of John Contoftephanus, and 
Alexius Comnenus, to make a defcent upon that ifland ; and 
Aitimptsin they landed accordingly without the Icaft oppofition : but 
njain to re- while the forces were afhore, Margarites, a famous pirate^ 
fowr cy- ^^Q j^jj^i joined Ifaac Comnenus, engaging the fleet, feized 
t^^*"^ or burnt all the ftirps, while the tyrant, attacking the forces 

that were landed, and could not retreat, made a terrible 
flaughter. This misfortune encouraged the Moefians, whom 
the emperor opprefled with heavy taxes, to revolt, and re^ 
, turn to the proteftion of the Scythians ; who, having raifed 

a numerous army, over-ran the neighbouring provinces. 
The emperor difpatched his uncle John Ducas againft them, 
who gained feveral advantages over the enemy, and would 
♦ in all likelihood have finiftied the war, had he not been re- 

called by the jealous empjeror. John, fumamed Cantacu- 
zenus, being appointed to fucceed him, was, through his 
raflmefs and indifcretion, often worfted by the enemy. At 
length Branas Alexius, the greateft commander of his age, 
Yr. of Fl. wasentrufted with the whole management of the war. Bra- 
3535- nas, finding himfelf at the head of a powerful and well dif- 
A.D. ii8o. ^.jpiined army, after having gained fome advantages over the 
enemy, fuddenly returned to Adrianople, the place of his 
Branas rf nativity; and being proclaimed emperor, led his troops with- 
«iw//i} out lofs of time to the imperial city, hoping to furprife Ifaac, 

andlays ^^^ ^^^ fcarce received intelligence of his revolts but the 
Jiege to citizens putting themfelves in a pofture of defence, and har- 
Conftan* saflfmg his troops with frequent fallies, he refolved to cn- 
tiaopte. camp at fome diftance from the city, and, by cutting off all 
communication with the neighbouring country, to reduce it 
by famine. The emperor, in the mean time, repofing all 
his confidence in the Virgin Mary (whofe image he placed 
on the walls), and in the prayers of the monks, continued 
inadive in his palace, till he was roufed by Conrade, fon to 
the marquis of Montferrat^ who^ happening to be then at 

Coaftan- 



7^ ConfiahiinopoUtah Hifiarjf. 1 6 j 

GoTiftantinople, encouraged him to aflemble his troops, and 
inarch out againft the enemy ; which advice he followed 
accordingly, being attended by Conrade; who commanded 
the .main body of the imperial army. Ah engagement en- 
fuing, the difpute.was maintained for a conHderable time on 
both fides with great obftinacy; but at length the emperor's 
forces, though a handful in comparifon ofthe enemy's, pre- 
vailing, Branas himfelf was killed on the fpot, and moft of He is J^- 
his chief officers either flain in the purfuit, or taken prifoners. featedand 
This viftory was chiefly owing tb the bravery and condu£t of *''^^'« 
Conrade, by whofe hand Branas fell, while he was encou^ 
raging his men to return to the charge *. 

The rebellion being thus happily fupprefled, ther jealous ne^mpe^ 
emperor rcfolved to employ the whole ftrengih of the empire ror*s /r/a- 
againil the celebrated emperor of Germany, Frederic Bar- ^^^'^'% 
baroiTa, who was marching at the head of a powerful aritiy^ ^'war^Frim 
to the affiftance of the princes of the crufade. He bad pro- jgric thg 
mifedvto grant Frederic a free pafiage through his dominions, German • 
and fupply his army with all manner of provifions; but being imperor. 
in the mean time gained over by Saladin, theTurkifii fultan, 
who promifed to reftore Paleftine to him, inftead of aflifting 
the German army, purfuant to his engagement, he no fooner 
heard of their arrival on the borders than he difpatched his 
coufin Manuel, with a formidable army, to obftruft their paf* 
fage, and intercept their provifions, having firft, without any 
regard to the law of nations, thrown into p^fon the bifhop 
of Munfter, the earl of Naflau, and count Walram, Frede- 
ric's ambafladors. The Germans, juftly provoked at the 
emperor's treachery, paffed, notwithftanding the oppofition 
they met with from the Greeks, into Thrace, and feized on 
the corn, of which tlv;y found great plenty in the fields, be* 
fore the inhabitants had time to remove it into the fortified 
towns, purfuant to the orders they had received from courts 
As they approached Philippopolis, the inhabitants ^bandon^ 
ed the place ; and Frederic, taking pofTeffion of it> halted a 
few days to refreAi his troops. 

In the mean time fhe emperor, incenfed againft Manuel, 
whom he accufed of cowardice, fent him perejnptory or* 
ders to engage the Germans ; purfuant to which, the Greek 
general advanced within fix miles of Philippopolis. But Tredtrie 
his whole army being (hamefuUy vanquiihed by a party of defei^u tfn 
Germans, whom Frederic had ordered to fcour the country^ i^peror^s 
and watch the enemy's motions^ the citie».of Nicopolis and q-J^g^n^ 
Adrianople, with all the places between the ^gean and ^yeral 
Euxiiie Seas, opened their gates to the vi£lorloas armyi pluat^ 

. - ■ ' 

* Nicn.*]ii Ifaac, Ang. lib. i. cap. i^^ k lib. ii. cap. i, *. 

M 2 without 



164 ^be Conftantlnopolitan Hiftory. 

without attempting to make the lead oppofition* In con- 
fequence of this progrefs, the emperor, having releafed 
Frederic's ambafladors, fued for peace, offering to fupplf 
the Germans vith provifions, and the neceflary (hips to 
tranfport them into Afia, provided they delivered hoftagea 
to him for his fecurity, and croffed the ftreights without 
delay. Frederic, now mailer of the whole country to the 
very gates of Conftantinople, thought proper to chaftife 
the pride of the prefumptaous but cowardly Greeks, and 
therefore returned the following anfwer to the emperor's 
deputies; that he had conquered Thrace» and therefore 
would difpofe of it at his pleafure \ that he was determined 
to winter there, fince the emperor had, by his perfidiouf- 
nefs^ retarded his march, till it was too late in tbe year to 
pafs the ftreights ; that he was refolved to treat the empe- 
ror as an enemy, if he had not a fufficient number of (hips 
ready againfl: Eafter to tranfport his troops ; • and, (ince he 
could not depend upon his faith, he commanded him to 
fend inftantly twenty-four of the principal lotds and offi- 
cers of his court, with eight hundred perfon^ of inferior 
quality, as hoftages for the performance of what he re- 
ObUgtsthi quired. To thefe fhamefui conditions the emperor was 
tmperort0 foixjcd to fubmit, fending the hoftages with rich prefentsto 
Ijbown^- Frederic, who, having wintered at Adrianople, moved early 
abli terms. ^^ the fpring to Callipolis, where he found a fufficient num- 
ber of veffels to tranfport his army into Afia *. 
Animpofor j^ ^^ y^^^ 1 191 , the eighth of mac's reign, an impoftor» 
I'tlfma^ jM-etending to be the fon of the emperor Manuel, laid claim 
offitvtral to ^^c empire : being encouraged by the fultan of Iconium, 
€uUi* he raifed in a fhort tinoe an army of eight thoufand men, 

reduced all the cities oa the Maeander, not with ftanding tbe 
oppofitton he met with from Alexius, the emperor's brother, 
who was fent againft him, and would in all likelihood have 
driven the emperor from the throne, had not a prieft put 
an end to his conquefts, by ftabbing him with his own 
fword while he lay afleep, after having drank to excefs ^ 
The Scythian^, encouraged by thefe domeftic commotions, 
renewed their incurfions, and ravaged the neighbouring 
provinces* Againft them the emperor marched in peribn ; 
but, having pafied the fummer without daring to attade 
^^ T^ them, tbcy fell upon him in his retreat, and cut off Ac 
^^by the ' g""c^*^ P^*** <>f 1^*8 army, the emperor himfelf having witk 
SiyihiMu. great difficulty made his efcape. After this viSory, the 
Dari>arians rovtd «botit the country without Oostrol, phm* 
dering the cities, mA carrying tbe inhabitants Into <apti« 

• Nicct. in tfaac. Ang. lib. ii.*a4». 4, 5. '^ Md.lib. iuu cap. l 

ritj 



The Conftantinopolitan Hijlory. 165 

▼it^. The emperor difpatched againft them firft Alexius 
Guido, and afterwards Batatzes Bafilius ; but both theft? 
generals being defeated, and the latter killed upon the fpof^ 
the emperor, having raifed frelh forces, refolved to march 
againft them once more in perfon. Accordingly he left 
Conilantinople early in the fpring, and arriving at CypfelU 
on the frontiers of the empire, nalted, till the troops that 
were marching from all parts joined him. 

In the mean time his brother Alexius Angelus, who had Yn of Fl« 
long afpired to the empire, obferving the general difcontent 354»* 
that reigned among the foldiery, refolved to embrace the uc"'*' 
prefent opportunity of attaining what he had fo long wiflied '^^ * 
for. Accordingly, having imparted his dcfign to fome of Alexius 
the chief officers of the army, and found them rfeady to Angitus 
efpoufe his intereft, and combine againft Ifaae, while the revoiiu 
emperor was one day hunting, the coftfpirators, feizing 
Alexius, as had been previoufly concerted, carried him to 
the imperial pavilion, where he was faluted emperor by the 
whole army. Ifaac, judging it impoiEble to reclaim the re* 
volted army, fled with great precipitation to Macra, where 
he was overtaken by thofe whom his brother had fent after 
him, and by his orders deprived of fight, and thrown into 
prifon, after he had reigned nine years and eight months*^. 

Alexias Angelus, thus raifed to the throne, abandoned Yr. of ft. 
himfelf to the fame vices for which he pretended to have ^^**' 
removed his brother, fpending his time in riot and luxury, ^'"r J'93* 
while the Scythians on one hand, and the Turks on the * 

other, made themfclves mafters of feveral important places, jUxius 
and defolated whole provinces. As he was an enemy to all Angelus. 
application, he committed the whole management of affairs Bisbadgo* 
to his wife Euphrofyne, and his favourites, who oppreflTed ^'^*«''»<* 
the people in a moft tyrannical manner, felling the nrft em- 
ployments of the ftate to the higheft bidder, without regard 
to their birth or abilities, and ufing all other means, how- 
ever unjuft and diftionourable, to fill their private coffers. 
In the year 1202, Alexius, rcflefting on the great kindne(s 
his brother had (hewn him during his reign, and thinking 
himfelf now firmly eftabliihed on the throne, ordered the 
unhappy Ifaac to be fet at liberty, and called his fon jfaac^thi 
Alexius, at that time about twelve years old, to the court, lateempe" 
treating him as his own child. But Ifaac, ftimulated by w,/// ai 
the indignity that had been ofiered him, and the injuftice ^^^^Kf* 
done both to himfelf and his fon, began to entertain 
thoughts of recoviering his former power, and affeuing his 
right to the imperial crown. With this view he main- 

« Nicet. ia Ifiiac* Angi Kb. iii. cap, f . 

M 3 tained 



His fin 
Alixius 
recurs to 
thi nmflern 
phttcts. 



%6^ The ConftanttnapolitaH Hiftory. 

taincd a private* correfporidcnce with the Latins, and by 
their means, with his daughter Irene, wife to Philip empc- 
f or of Germany^ carncftly preffing her to perfuade the em^ 
peror to en.dertake the proteflion of her unfortunate father 
and brother. Irene giving them hopes of a fpeedy and 
powerful afliftancc, young Alexius efcaped from Conftan- 
tinpple ; and, embarking in a (hip belonging to a merchant 
of Pifa, riding then at the mouth of the Hellefpont, landed 
fafe in Sicily. He fpent fome days in private conferences 
with his (ifter, who was then in that iflandi'and from 
thence purfued his journey to Rome, to folicit the afiiftance 
of the pope, by whom he was kindly received, and warmly 
recommended to Philip. That ^ince received young A- 
lexius ^ith the greateft demonftrations of kindnefs and 
cfteem, and was fenfibly touched with the misfortunes of 
Irene's family 5 but being then engaged in a dangerous war 
^ith Otho, who difputed the empire with him, be could 
not efpoufe the young prince's caufe. However, by means 
of hjs ambafTadprs, he engaged th« French and Venetians, 
who had then a powerful army in Dalmatja, ready to 
march again ft the Turks, to attempt the reftoration of his 
brother-in-law, and employ their whoje (Irength againf^ 
the ufurper. 

The treaty, after fome warm difputes, was concluded 5 in 
virtue of which the French and Venetians werp to eftablifli 
Alexius on the imperial throne, and Alexius, upon his re^ 
ftoration, engaged to pay two hundred thoufand niarks in 
filver towards the expences of the holy war, maintain ten 
thoufand mep one year, to be en^ployed in the conqueft of 
Egypt, and, during his life, iSve hundred knights well 
armed for the defence of fuch places as they (hould conquer 
in the Holy Land. The treaty being ratified with mutual 
paths, the army embarked for Corfu, the place of the gene- 
ral rendezvous. A§ they appeared before Dyrracfbium, 
the inhabitants were po fooner informed that the young 
princ^ was on board the fleet, than they prefented him with 
the keys of the place, and fvvore allegiance. Encouraged 
by this happy prefage, they purfued their courfe.tp the 
idand of Corfu, and from thence, aJFter a (hort ttay, to the 
port of St. Stepheii on the Propontis, where they refreflied 
themfelves, and then failed to Chalcedon, wherp they landed 
Conftanti' their troops. In they mean time, the emperor, haviiig col- 
nopte be^ }e£bed all his forces, encamped on the Bofporus, oppofite 
^gid. the confederates^ who nevcrthelefs paflfed the ftreights, the 
emperor having bt^t twenty gallics to oppofe them, and 
landed in fight of the emperor's army, who, at their apr 
proach, retired in great diforder. Next day the French 

* furprife^ 



A tre^fy 
concludtd 
^eiiveen 
them and 



chium fub' 
mits to 
Mlexius* 



The ConJiantinopoUian Hiftory* i6j 

furprifed the cattle of Galata, and the Venetians, being fap 
voured by an' eafterly wind, failed up to the chain that fe- 
cured the mouth of the' harbour ; and, having cut it with 
iheers of il^el, that opened and fhut by means of an engine, 
they took or funk all the Greek veflels in the haven. After 
this exploit, the Venetians having battered the walls for ten 
days fucceffivcly by fea, and the French by land, -a general 
affault was given on the feventeenth of July. The Greeks 
made a more vigorous oppofition than was expected 5 and, 
being afljfted both by the advantage of the place, and their 
numbers, often repulfed the aflailants. But at length the 
celebrated Henry Dandalo, doge of Venice, though then 
above eighty years old, putting himfelf at the head of his 
countrymen, whom he encouraged more by his example 
than his words, ruflied in, defying all oppofition; and, 
having feized on one of the, towers, planted on the top 
the great ftandard of St. Mark. 

The emperor, finding part of the enemy's troops had got^ 
into the town, fallied out with a defign to charge them in 
the rear, and oblige them to draw off their men from the 
attack ; out being repulfed with great daughter, and the 
brave Dandalo having by this time fubdued twenty-five 
towers on the fide of the haven, the cowardly prince, aban- TAe u/mf" 
doning his people, went privately on board a fmall veffel Y- ^^^^' 
kept for that purpofe, and efcaped with his treafures aod tf^^^* 
the imperial ornaments, to Zagora, a city of Thrace, at the 
foot of Mount Haemus, It was no fooner known that the 
tyrant had fled, than the people, crouding to the prifon 
vhere Ifaac had been detained fince the flight of his fon 
Alexius, faluted him again vv^ith the title of emperor, placed I/aac r#- 
him upon the imperial throne, from which he had been J^^red, , . 
driven about eight years, and invited the young prince to 
fhare the empire with his father. The confederates were 
trahfported with joy at the news of fo fuddenand unexpe£l- 
ed a revolution ; however, as they had been but too often 
deceived by the Greeks, they refufed to acknowlege Ifaac, 
till he had ratified the treaty concluded with his fon ; which 
ftep he had no fooner taken than the confederates owned 
him for emperor, and condi^fted the young prince in great 
triumph into the city, where he was aflTociated with his 
father in the empire, and crowned with extraordinary pomp 
and folemnity on the firft of Auguft, 1203**. As the 
ufurper ftill continued in Thrace, fupported by a ftrong 
P^rty, and Theodorus Lafcaris, his fon-in-law, was at the 
bead of a numerous body of troops on the other fide of the 

A Nicet. lib. iii. cap. 1-— xx. 

M 4 BofporuS| 



1 



l68 i%e Cmjtanttnopolitan Bijlofy. 

1^6fporus, tiie two' emperors esfrneftly ihtreafted the tbtife- 
derates to defer their expedition to the Holy Laftd, till 
they had completed tht work ^Xrhich they had fo happily be- 
gun. To this propofal they readilv agreed ; ^lid iharching 
againfl; thfe tyrant, who had feized on Adrianople, obliged 
him to fly forfefuge to the ne'ighbouring Barbarians. Theo- 
doras Lafcaris no fooner heard that the cdnfederates werd 
preparing to croft the ftffeights, in order to attack him, thart 
he difbaftded his atmy, arid withdrew to the territories of 
the Turks. The confederates, having eftabliftied the two 
|>rinces on the throne, returned about the middle, of winter 
to Conftantinople, where they were received with the 
grfeatfeft demonftrations of jo/, and from thence paffed into 
Afia in the fpring. 
Adriadful In the courfe of the fame yeaf a drtddful cdnflagration 
fnatCou'^ ha|)pfehed at Conftantinople, occafioned by fome Latin fol- 
Jiantinoflt. diers, who, having plundered a mofque which the late em- 
peror had fufFered the Mohammedans to ere£l in the ihipe- 
rial city, and being on that account attacked by the Turks, 
who were much fuperior in number, fet fire to fome Wooden 
houfes, the better to favour their efcape. The flames fpread- 
ing from Areet to ftreet, reduced in a (hort time great part 
of the city to aflies, with the capacious ftorehoufes, that 
had been ouilt at a vaft expence, on the quay •. The fem- 
t)eror Ifaac died fooh after the departure of the Latins, leav- 
ing his foh Alexius fole tnafter of the empire. The young 
prince, to difcharge the large fums he had promifed to the 
French and Venetians, Was forced to lay heavy taxes on his 
|ubje£ls, which. With the great efteehi and friendfliip hfc 
ihewed to his deliverers, raifed a general difcontent among 
JiSurixuph' the people, who were fworn enemies to the Latins. This 
fus betrays Encouraged John Ducas, furnamed Murtzuphlus, from his 
theyoun^ thick eye-brows, to attenript the fovereignty. As he was 
^ * a perfon of great addrefs and uncommon parts, he not only 
. ingratiated hirnfelf with the multitude, by exclaiming againft 
the Latins, as the only caufe of the prefent miferies, but 
liaving found rneans to gain the young prince's confidehce, 
he by degrees brought him to offend the Latins, and even 
to treat them as enemies. Hoftilities being returned by 
ihe weftern princes, Murtzulphus difpatched one of hi§ 
friends, ih the emperor's name, to the marquis of Mbnt- 
JFerrat, with propofals for an accommodation, offering to 
iurrehder the palace and fortrefs Of Blachernse, within thft 
jvalls of Conftantinople, provided he would delivet hini 
from \\i^ enraged populace, Who, he faid, had revoltedi and 

* Nicet* lib. iii. cap. is* 



The CdnJlantinopoUtan Hiftoty, 1 6^ 

proclailricd another emperor. The marqiiis^ gtviiig credit 
to the ambaffador, prepared to iharch to Cotiftatitinople ; 
but in the mean time the treacherous Murtzulphus, having 
faifed the people, by proclaiming that Aleieius had fold the 
titj to the Latins, who were in full mafch to take poflef- 
fidn of it, entered, in the midft of the tumuJt, the prince'6 
thatnber, and ftrangled him with hifi o>^rt hands. After yr, of FL 
this affaffination he prefented biiwfelf to the people, aC*. 3553. 
quainted thent with what he had done to fecure their liber* A.D. 1104. 
tics, afid earneftly intreated them to choofe an emperor who ^•^•/9S3> 
had courage to defend them againft the Latins, always ^ 
ready to oprprefs and enflave them. He had no fooncr con* dinAiml 
eluded his fpeech than thofe who were privy to his wicked 
dcfign faluted him with the title of emperor, and their ex- 
ample was follottred by the whole multitude, who, with 
loud acclamations, placed hirti on the imperial throne. 

The princes of the crufade no fooner heard of the death 
()f Alexius, and the promotion of the treacherous aflaffin^ 
than they unanimoufly agreed to turn their arms againft the TAe Latins 
ofurper, to revenge the murder of a prince whom they had ^^/^^^ to 
fupported 5 aftd fince they had been fo often betrayed and ^fy^^*^^ 
Wtirded in their fevetal expeditions to the Holy Land by 
the Greek emperors, to make themfelves matters of Con* 
ftahtiriople, and feize on the empire for themfelves. Pur* 
ftlant to this refolution, having muttered all their forces iA 
Afia, they crofled the ftreights, and clofely befieged the 
imperial city both by fea and land. The tyrant^ who was ^hey he- 
a man of courage and great experience in war, made a vi^ Jitgi C#«- 
gorous defence. However, the Latins, after having battered fiantmttpUi 
the walls fbr feveral days together with an incredible num*. 
ber of engines, gave a general aflault on the eighth of April, 
which continued from break of day till three in the after- 
noon, when they were forced to retire, after having loft 
fome of their engines, and a great number of men. It wa$ 
fi^vetthelefs refolved the fame night, in a council of war, 
Aat the attack (hould be renewed ; and it recommenced ac- 
cordingly on Monday the twelfth of April, when, after a 
warm confli£i: of feveral hours, the French planted their 
ftandard on one of the towers ; a circumftance which the 
Venetians obferving, they quickly reduced four other towers, 
^bcre they likewife difplayed their enfigns. In the tnean - 
time three of the gates being dettroyed by the battering- 
^fts, and thofe who had fcaled the walls having killed the 
guards, and opened the gates between the towers they had 
^tett, the whole army drew Upi in order of battle, within 
At walls. But the Greeks flying in the greateft confufion, 
fcverai parties were detached to rcour the ftrects, who put 
*l *ey met tp th^ fword, jj. j^^ 



lyo Tl^e Confiantifwpolitdft Hi/lory. 

Nightinterrupted the dreadful flaughter, when the princes, 
founding the retreat, placed their men in the different qua,r- 
ters of the city, with orders to fortify themfelves, not doubt- 
ing but they fhould be attacked early next morning. They 
were therefore greatly furprifed when, inftead of an armed 
enemy» they faw by break of day procefiions of fuppliants 
advancing from every quarter of the city, with crofies, ban- 
ners, images of faints, and relics, to implore mercy. The 
princes, touched with compafiion, promifed them their 
lives, but at the fame time ordering them to retire to their 
nvhieh is houfes, they gave up the city to be plundered by the foldiery 
';*'^ ^j ^^^ ^^*^ ^^y» ftridlly enjoining them to abftain from ilaugh- 
f Mr ga ^^j.^ j^ preferve the honour of the women, and to bring the 
whqle booty into one place, that a juft diftribution might 
be made according to the rank andmerit of every individual. 
The Greeks had, without doubt, removed and concealed 
their mod valuable effefis during the night ; the mod emi- 
nent perfons had made their efcape, and carried with them 
immenfe treafures ; moft of the foldiers had, in all likeli- 
hood, referved feveral things of great value for themfelves, 
notwith (landing all prohibitions to the contrary ; and yet the 
booty, without the (latues, pi£i:ures^ and jewels, amounted to 
a fum almoft incredible. Murtzuphlus made his efcape in 
the night, embarking in a fmall veilel with Euphrofyne, the 
wife of the late ufurper Alexius Angelus, andher daughter 
Eudoxia, for whofe fake he had abandoned his lawful wife. 
This great revolution happened in the yefir 1204 of the 
Chriflian sera. v 



O****O***^O«MoO«M»O«M*OMMO«O«oOe«0»O««»Oo9MOMOoQ< 



CHAP. LXXI. 

TAe Confiantwopolitan Hijiory^ from the ExpuU 
fion of the Greeks to the Taking of Confianti^ 
nople by the Turks ^ and the total DeJiruStion 
of the Roman Empire. 

Baldwin^ rTTA H E Latins, mailers of the imperial city, proceeded 
sari of 1- to the cleftion of an emperor ; when Baldwin, carl 

Flanders, ofFlanders, a prince in every refpe£l equal to that high 
Wrorof*' ^'S'^^'y^ ^^^» ^^^^^ ^*°°^^ deliberation, chofen, and crowiicd 
Conflanti' ^^^^ extraordinary pomp and magnificence in the church 
wpU. of St. Sophia. To him was allotted»the city o£Conftanti- 
nople and the country pi Thrace^ with a limited fovercignty 

pvpf 



^ht Confiantinopolitah Ktfiory. 171 

over the other provinces, which already were, or ihould 
afterwards be taken from the Greeks. To Boniface, mar^ 
quis of Montferrat, they affigned Theflaly, which was ere£l- 
ed into a kingdom. The Venetians had the iflands of the 
Archipelago, part of Peloponnefus, and feveral cities on the 
Hellefpont, for their (hare. But while the Latins were thus Thiodona 
dividing their new acquifitions, Theodorus Lafcatis, fon-*in-» l-ojcaris 
law to the tyrant Alexius Angelus, having, at the taking *^ g^*^ ^ 
of Conllantinople, made his efcape into Bithynia, was joy* ^^ j^icr * 
fully received by the inhabitants ; and poflefHng hinifelf 
not only of that country^ but of Phrygia, Myfia, Ionia, and 
liydia, from the Mseander to the Euxi^ne Sea, aifumed the 
title of emperor, and fixed his imperial feat in the famous 
city of Nice. At the fame time David and Alexius Com* ne Com* 
nciji, grandchildren to the late tyrant Andronicus, feizing «5««' 
on the more eaftern countries of Pontus, Galatia, and Cap« ^^^P^^"^ 
padocia, erected another empire atTrapezus or Trapezond, 
where their poflerity reigned ti)l that country, as well as 
Conllantinople, fell into the hands of Mohammed the Great. 
Thus the Greek empire was no longer one, but divided into 
feveral ftates. Baldwin reigning at Conllantinople, the 
marquis of Montferrat in Theflaly, Theodorus Lafcaris at 
Nice, the Comneni at Trapezond, and the Venetians in the 
iilands ; not to mention feveral other toparchies or principa- 
lities founded on the ruii^s of the Conftantinoplitan empire* 
To refume the thread of our hlflory : Baldwin, the new 
emperor of Conftantinople, having, with the aiTiftance of 
the other princes, reduced all Thrace except Adrianople« 
whither great numbers of Greeks had fled for (belter againft 
the prevailing power of the Latins, refolved to befiege that 
important place,* and accordingly invefted it with all his 
forces. The Greeks defended themfelves with great refo- 
lution, and at the fame time, by means of fome of their na- 
tion, who had withdrawn into Bulgaria, prevailed upon BaUwUtU 
John, king of that country, to efpoufe their caufe, ^ho, ^^'V ^' 
inarching at the head of a powerful army, confiding partly ^^^'^^ , 
of Bulgarians, partly of Scythians, to the relief of the place, riauu^^' 
drew the emperor into an ambufcade, cut off mod of his 
wen, and took Baldwin himfelf prifoner. After this vie- yr. of FK 
tory the Bulgarians over-ran all Thrace, plundering the 3355* 
cities, defolating the country, and committing inexpreffible A.D.iio5. 
cruelties. The unhappy emperor, Baldwin, was fent in ' '^^5* 
chains to Emoc or Ternova, the capital of Bulgaria, where, Baldwin 
After his hands and feet had been cut off by the king's orders, taken and 
he was carried into a defert, and left expofed to the wild put to 
bcafts and birds of prey. In 'that miferable condition he dtath. 
)|yed three days^ and dien expired. Even the Greek hif* 

torians 



jy2 Tie C&n/ianttmpolitaH SRfiory. 

toriam tfaemfdires allow him to ha?e been a prince endowed 
with every aecomplifliment ^ 

In the mean time, Alexius Angelas, the late ufurper, 
hearing that Theodorus Lafcaris, his fon-in^law, reigned ii^ 
Alia, left Greeec, where he then lay concealed. Faffing 
over into Afia, he went privately to the court of Jathatines, 
ftthan of Iconiumi his ancient friend and ally ) and, laying 
before him the miferable condition to which he was re^ 
AUxtn$ duoed, with tears in his eyes, implored his afliftance for the 
Angilus recovery of his empire, efpecially of that part of Afia Mi- 
fi^iJ^P '*' nor which was, with the utmoft injuftice, with-hcld from 
J^i TA/- ^** '^y Theodortis Lafcaris. Jathatines was the younger 
•dtrusLaf' fo<^ of fultan Aladin, who, at his death, divided his king* 
Mff/. dom between his two children Aratines and Jathatines \ 

but they quarrelling about the ' fovereignty, the latter had 
been e^tpellcd by the former, and forced to fly for refuge to 
Conftantinople, where he was kindly received, and enter- 
tained in a manner fuitable to his rank by Alexius, then 
emperor. Jathatines efpoufing, out of gratitude, the caufe 
of his unfortunate friend, fent ambafladors to Alexius, de- 
manding him to deliver up the country he unjuftly poile£r- 
ed, to the lawful owner Alexius, his father-in-law. Before 
the return of the ambafladors, the fultan, attended by 
Alexius, advanced at the head of twenty thoufand men to 
Antioch on the M^^nder, and befleged that place ; a cir- 
eumftance which Lafcaris no fooner underfl:ood than he 
marched with two thoufand men, the moft he was able in 
that exigence to raifc, to the relief of the city, being con- 
vinced, that if he fuffered it to fall into the enemy's hands, 
US it ftood on that river, and was the boundary of his em- 
J)ife, it would open a way for them into the neart of his 
dominions. The fultan at firft could fcarce give credit to 
thofe who brought him intelligence of the approach of Laf- 
caris with fo fmall a force.* However, he drew up his army 
in the heft manner the narrownefs of the place would allow. 
He had fcarce time to take this precaution, when eight 
hundred Italians, of Lafcaris's army, charging the Tuiics 
with incredible refolution, broke through the fultan*s army, 
difordered his ranks, and put his men into the utmoft con- 
fufion. As the Greeks had not courage to follow them, 
they were feparated from the reft of the troops, and on their 
return furrounded by the Turkiih cavalry, and entirely 
€ut oflF. 

The Greeks, intimidated at fo great a lofs, were upon 
the point of giving up the conteft, when the fultan, noWj 

f Nket. ill Bald. cap« x*n»ii, 

as 



The ConfiantiMpoUtan Hiftary. I7| 

» he imaginedi fare of the vi£bory, fiogling out the Greek 
emperor, and trufting to hi6 own ftrength, engaged him in 
perfon, and at the firft blow ftruck him off his horfe : but 
Lafcaris, quickly recovering himfelf^ unhorfed and flew the 
fultan, cut off* his head ; and^ fixing it upon the point of a ^e^ mn 
fpear» in fight of the enemy's army, infufed fuch terror into d^atU^ 
them, that they immediately abandoned the field in a pre* ^ndthg ^ 
cipitatc and diforderly manner, leaving the GreekSf whp I^^^fi^^ 
before were ready to fly, mailers of their camp and baggage* 
Alexius, the author of this war, was taken prxfoner, and 
carried to Nice, where he was confined to a monaftery, in 
which be ended his days fome years after*. This yi&otj 
was followed by a peace, concluded with the Turks upon 
the Greek emperor's own terms, wtt> being how at leifure 
to fecure his dominions againft Henry, brother to the late 
emperor Baldwin, and bis fucceflbr in the Conftantii^opolw 
tan empire, a bloody war was cbntinued for feveral years U^arhi* 
between thefe two princes, with various fuccefs ; but; the 'w^f « th^ 
Greeks being divided among themfelves, and feveral princes ^^'\^^^ 
of the imperial family eredling, in diflFerent prqvinceSi inde-^ ptrgru * 
pendent principalities, Laiicaris was at length obliged to 
acknowkge the authority of Henry^ and conclude a peace. 

This war being terminated, Henry turned his arms firft 
againft the Bulgarians, whom he drove out of Thrace* ^nd 
afterwards againft Michael Angelas, a Greek prince of the 
imperial family* who having feized on £tolia and Spirus^ 
during the confufion that enfued upon the taking of Con«> 
ftantinople by the Latins, caufed himfelf to be acknowleged 
defpot Of lord of that country. The emperor declared war 
againft ium» and his bi other Theodorus* a warlike prince^ 
during the greater part of his reign \ but was not able to 
recover the countries which he poflTefled. Henry, after Henr^^thi 
having reigned ten years, nine months> and twenty dayst l^^^tm^ 
with great glory and fuccefs, died at Theflalonica^ in the ^^^'^ 
fortieth year of his age. He was fucceeded by Peter, count p^^^. . 
of Auxerre. who had marred his fifter, and fignaliz^ him* 
^ upon feveral occafions. 

This prince, arriving at Rome on his way from France to Yr. of Fl» 
Conftafntinople, was iblemnly crowned by pope Hono- 35^^* 
riuslil. an the ninth of April, 12 17. From Rome he ^^"56* 
proceeded to Venice, where he entered into an alliance ' ' '^ * 
^h that republic againft Theodorus, who had, fucceeded Crowmd 
m bftotber Michael in the principality of iEtolia and £pi* at Rome. 
*us. Xearing Venice, ht -entered that prince's dominions^ 
and befioged Dycrachinnv, wJhich Theodorus hhad lately 

» JlScf tt in fiaM* cafL ^t» 

taken ; 



174 



Who is 
treac/ie- 
r9mfy put 
to diath by 
^keodortts^ 
frrnci of 

RokerU 
Latin em- 
feror of 
Confian- 
timpU* 



Ws troops 
defeated by 
John D»- 
eaSf the 
Greek em- 
peror % 



TIj€ CoHftantinopoUtan Ht/Iory. 

taken ; but, not being able to reduce it, he was forced t(f 
abandon tlie enterprize, and foon after to come to an agree- 
ment with Theodorus, who promifed him a free paiTage 
through his dominions. Neverthelefs, he fell upon him by 
furprize, cut mod of his forces in pieces, and having taken 
the emperor himfeif prifoner, put him to death **. Upon 
his deceafe, the Latins named his eldeft fon Philip, count 
of Namur, to fucceed him; but, he declining that honour^ 
Robert, the deceafed emperor's fecond fon, was prevailed 
upon to aflume -the purple. In the third year of his reign 
Theodorus Lafcaris died, after having governed, for the 
•fpace of eighteen years, that part of the empire which the 
Greeks ftill retained in Afia, and defended it with no lefs 
courage than fuccefs fgainft the Turks on one fide, and 
the Latins on the other. He left one fon and three daugh-* 
ters ; but the fon being an infant, he bequeathed the em- 
pire to John Ducas, furnamed Vataces, who had married 
hts eldeft daughter Irene, and was by the dying emperor 
not undefervedly judged more capable than his own bro- 
thers, Alexius and Ifaac, of defending^ and even enlarging, 
the empire, which he had founded. John Ducas was 
crpwned in the year 1222, by Manuel, patriarch of the 
Greeks^ at Nice. Alexius and Angelus, the emperor's bro* 
thers, thinking the empire belonged to them, withdrew to 
Conilantinople, to implore the protection of the Latins 
againft one whom they looked upon as no other than an 
ufurper. 

Robert, the Latin emperor, quickly efpoufe4 their caufe ; 
and, having raifed a confider^ble army, committed it to 
their conduft. But John, having affembled in the mean 
time all his forces, intercepted the two brothers at a place 
called Pdemaneum ; and, having engaged them, gained a 
complete vidory, the flower of the Latin army being cut 
off, and the two commanders taken prifoners. The Greek 
emperor, encouraged by this fuccefs, built with incredible 
expedition a great number of gallies in the feveral ports of 
Afia ; and falling fuddenly upon the i Hands in the Archi- 
pelago, reduced moft of them, every-where driving the La- 
tins before him. The fame of his exploits reaching Affan 
or Azen, king of Bulgaria, that prince, courting his friend- 
ship, propofed a match between his daughter Helena, and 
Theodore, the emperor*s fon, which was joyfully embraced 
by Ducas, who well knew how advantageous to his afiairs 
an alliance would prove with fo powerful a prince. At the 
fame time the fultan of Iconium, apprehencUng an irruption 



^ Qcorg. Acrop. lib. i..ca^.«< 



of 



The Conftantinopolitan Hijioty. 175 

of the Tartars, who had already driven the Turks out 0*^ 
Perfia, fcnt ambaffadors to Nice, to confirm and prolong 
the truce between the two crowns ; a propofal to which Du- 
cas readily agreed, and then employing his whole ftrength 
againft the Latins, fubdued all the places held by them on wohoreco* 
the Bofporus, and the Hellefpont. While the Latins were iftrsfevt" 
thus diftrefled on the other fide of the ftreights by John Du* ^I^^^^' 
cas, Theodorus, prince or defpot of Epirus, invading Thef- Iqxuu. 
faly and Thrace, reduced thofe countries ; and, aifuming 
the title of emperor, was crowned with great folemnity by 
Demetrius, patriarch of Bulgaria. He had lately concluded 
a peace with John, the f(5n and fucceffor of Azen in the 
kingdom of Bulgaria ; but elated with his fuccefs againfl: 
the Latins, and defirous of enlarging his dominions with 
new conqnefts, in defiance of the late treaty he invaded 
Bulgaria. But John, whom he confidered as a match for fo 
renowned a conqueror, having raifed a powerful army, en- 
gaged him ; and having, after a long and bloody difputey 
put his forces to flight, took the defpot himfelf prifoner^ 
and caufed his eyes to be pulled out *. 

Not long after this tranfaftion, about the year 1228, Ro- Yr. of Fl. 
bert, emperor of the Latins, died, in the ninth year of his S577- 
reign, in Achaia, as he was returning from Rome, which u*5*"*^* 
city he had vifited, in order to be crowned in a more folemn ' '^^^* 
manner by the pope. He had married the daughter. of ji^^trt 
Baldwin of Neville, though {he had fome time before been diu. 
betrothed to a Burgundian lord, who, provoked at her for- 
faking him to marry the emperor, feized on her and her 
mother, during the prince's abfence ; and, having caufed 
tlje ambitious mother to be thrown into the fea, ordered 
the nofe, ears, and lips, of her beautiful daughter to be cut 
off. The fenfe of this barbarous outrage funk fo deep into 
the emperor's mind, that it was thought to have occafioned 
his death. He was fucceeded by Baldwin IL his brother, BaUww 
or, as fome writers aflert, his ion, who being but eight //* 
years old, John of Brienne, formerly king of Jerufalem, John, eart 
and one of the greateft captains of his time, was appointed f^f Brienne 
regent and guardian of the empire during his minority. ^f/'^JJpirg. - 
John governed with abfolute and uncontroled power, and 
was refpefled and obeyed as emperor. In the beginning of 
bis adminiftration, John Azen king of Bulgaria, and John 
Ducas the Greek emperor, entering into an alliance, fell 
with their united forces upon the territories of the Latins^ 
and laid clofe fiegc to Conftantinople : but the regent, be- 
baving with courage and refolution equal to his iormex re* 

i Georg, Acrop. lib. i. cap. 3— 9* 

putation^ 



1 7 (J The Cot^antinopi)Utan Hifiory. 

tie defeats putatton« Cillied put with no more than two hundred horfe, 

the united itnd a batidful of foot, routed the enemy's army, amountii^ 

forces 9j to a hundred thoufand meo ; andt having obliged them tQ 

Axen and ^^jf^ ^^^ fiege, atid purfued them with great flai^ghter, r^ 

turned to the metropolis loaded with booty. 
Tr. «f Fl. In the following year 1236, the confederate princes, de« 
*S5^5* pending upon their numbeis, appeared again before the 
UC "1^ imperial city ; but were attended with no better fuccel^l 
' '^ ^' being a fecond time defeated and put to flight. But the 
Conflan- cnenly receiving daily frefli fupplies, and the Latin army 
tinople be- being greatly weakened and diminifhed, partly by £iGknef$| 
feged. and partly by frequent battles *and (kirmi(bes» the regent 
was at length obliged to (hut himfelf up in the imperial 
city, having no more men left alive than were neceflary to 
defend the wallsi The enemy, apprifed pf the ftate of his 
affairs, returned once more, and renewed the fiege \ where* 
upon John, knowing he could not rely upon the Greeks, 
whcr ai>horred a foreign yoke, and were entirely devoted to 
the fanqilies at Nice and TrapezQnd, fent the young em- 
peror Baldwin to folicit fuccours in perlbn from the weftem 
prioqes. During his abfence the Venetians, arriving with 
Skefiegi a powerful 4cet at Conftantinople, obliged the confederate 
raifed. iorc^s of Azen and Vataces to retreat from that city. 
y oka of John of Brienne dyiag in 1237, the Ic^fs of fo great a man 
Briewi wx>uld have proved fatal to the Latins^ but for a mifunder- 
^''^* ftaoding that arofe ibetweoQ the Greek emperor and king of 

Bulgaria, and was carried to fuch a height, that the latter 
having by ftratagem recovered his daughter, whom be had 
married to the emperor's fon, joined the Latins againft 
him, and with them invefted the city of Chiorli. In the 
• ^ ' mean time news being brought him of the death of his wife 
Anne, daughter to the king of Hungary, he dropped that 
enterprise, and returned home, where be foon after mar- 
ried the daughter of Theodorus Angeljus, the late deipot of 
£f>irus, whom he had taken prifoner a few years before, 
and deprived of fight. 
Thi dejpot This alliance produced a great change in the afiairs of 
ofEpirus Theodorus; for Azen not only fet him at liberty, but aflift- 
reftored, gj j^jj^ j^ ^^ recovery of his dominions^ which had been 
ufurped by his brother Manuel. Being reftored to his for- 
mer power, he appointed his fon to govern iu his ropoij 
cauffing him to be acksiowleged as emperor. This nomina- 
tion gave jio finall .umbrage to John VataceSj who pretend- 
ed to be thefoleieaiperor of the Gredcs; therefore^ upon 
the death of Azen, wthich happened Xoon after^ he pafled 
over into Thrace \ then entering into an alliance with the 
Scythians^ who ^4 lately fettled in Macedon, he entered 

the 



The Cor^antinopoUtM Uifimy. 177 

tlie mock-emperoi^8 territomsy ftripped him of great part Vataas 
of bis dominions^ and obliged him to renounce the title of reduces pi* 
emperor, and content himfelf with that of defpot^ In lajp^ '^^^^ , 
the emperor Baldwin^ returning from the Weft, arrived at q^^J^^^ 
Conilantinoplci and was crowned by the patriarch in the 
church of St. Sophia. He concluded an alliance with xht 
Comneni reigning at Trapezond, and, with their aififtance^ 
Wfieged and took the city of Chiorli, which, however, was 
foon after retaken by Vataces, together with th« ifland df 
Rhodes, which had been furprifed a few years before by 
the Grenoefe. Vataces, having recovered the places which 
had been difmembered from his empire by the Latins, and 
not only made himfelf mafter of ihe greater part of ACaj 
but extended his conquefts in Europe almoft to the verjr 
gates of Conftantinople, died, after a glorious reign of thirty- f^at^cts 
three years, being then in the fixty-fecond year of his age K din. 

Vataces was fucccjcded by his fon Theodorus Lafcaris, y ^ p. 
who, having renewed the ancient alliance with the fultan of \i^o±, \ 
Iconium, paiTed the Hellefpont at the head of a powerful A.D. 1255* 
army, and made war upon the king of Bulgaria, and the U.C. 1004. 
defpot of Epirus, who had invaded his dominions in Ma- 
ccdon and Thrace, with fuch fuccefs, that they were foi^ced ^ *? .*' 
to fue for peace, which he granted them upon his own "^ * 
terms. While he lay at Theffalonica, he received letters 
from. Nice, informing him that Michael Pal^eoiogus, whom 
he bad left governor of Afia during his abfence, had &«- 
Cfetly withdrawn to the Turks, under pretence that his Michael 
enemies at court, by mifreprefenting his condu£i:, had ren- PaUohgut 
dercd him fufpefted to the emperor, whofc difpleafure he J"''*- 
feared. As Michael was an officer of great courage and S^'^'^L 
experience, the fultan of Iconium received him- with un- 
common demonftrations of kindnefs and efteem, and gave 
him the command of a^body of Greeks in the Turkifli pay, 
at the head oi which he diOtinguiihed himfelf foon after in 
a battle between the Turks and Tartars, and would have 
gained a complete viftory^ had not the defertion of a chief 
officer, who was nearly related to the fultan, turned the 
fortune of the day. The Turkifli army beine almoft en* 
tirely cut off, the vidorious Tartars, who had already driven 
the Turks out of Perfia, and the more eaftern provinces, 
'av^cd without control the countries belonging to them in 
Afia, and reduced the fultan to fuch diftrefs, that he was 
forced to fly for refuge to the emperor Theodorus, who re- 
eeived him in a very kind manner, and fent him back with 
a body of chofen troops, under the command of IfaacDo*' 

k Acrop. in Vat. cap. i4-~ai. 
Vol. XV. N «»«> 



Xj8 ' The Conftantinopolitan Hlflory. 

cas, an officer of great reputation, and the emperor^s chief 
favourite. The fultan, in his turn, delivered up to the em- 
peror the city of Laodicea. 

In the mean time Theodorus, unwilling to lofe a fubjeft 
of fuch extraordinary parts as Palseologus, wrote a friendly 
Hi is re- letter, inviting him home, and prOmifing to receive him 
calUJhame. ^^^^ favour, and reftore him to his former honours and em- 
ployments. With this invitation Palseologus readily com- 
plied, and was, upon his return, reinftated in the empe- 
ror's favour, after having taken an oath of allegiance to 
The empi' Theodorus and his fon. The emperor died foon after, hav- 
rordte^. ing fcarce reigned three years complete, leaving his fon 
Yr. of Fl. John, then about nine years old, his fucceflbr in the em- 
3608. pire. Some time before his death he took the monadic 
A.D. 1159. habit, diftributed great fums among the poor, and applied 
U.C ^oo8 . hin^feif <^jth exemplary piety to a^s of devotion. On his 
John Laf* death-bed, he appointed Arfenius, the patriarch, and George 
cans, Muzalo, guardians to the young prince. Muzalo was a 

perfon of mean defcent, but had, by his great fidelity and 
inviolable attachment to the emperor, deferved to be raifed 
to the higheft employments in the (late, which he had ever 
difcharged with uncommon integrity, and a charadier alto^ 
gether unblemifhed. However, the nobility, thinking the 
care and tuition of the young prince belonged to them, be- 
gan to complain of his condu£^, and cenfute all his mea- 
fures. 'Hereupon Muzalo, who fincerely defired to retire, 
and lead a private life, having aflembled the nobility, offer- 
ed to refign the adminiftration to fuch as were thought the 
beft qualified for the difcharge of fo great a truil : but they 
ail declining it, he obliged them to renew their allegiance 
to the emperor, and bind themfelves under a folemn oath 
to obey him, and during his minority, thofe whom the de* 
ceafed emperor judged proper to entruft with the care of 
his fon, and the government of the ftate. But notwith- 
fianding this oath, the leading men among the nobility 
confpiring againft Muzalo, on the day appointed for the ob- 
fequies of the late emperor, repaired to the abbey of So- 
fandra, where he was to be interred ; and mixing with the 
Muzatot crowd, in the midib of the fervice, attacked Muzalo with 
the young jjj^j^ drawn fwords, and difpatched him at the akar, whi- 
a/7r«ffr ^* ther he had fled for refuge, with his two brothers Andro- 
murdired, nicus and Theodorus, men of diftinguiflied chara£iers. 

. Muzalo being aflafiinated, the confpirators, without any 
Michail regard to the patriarch, who was a man of learning, but an 
PaUohgus utter ilrangec to ftate-afiairs, declared Michael Pakeologus 
guardian guardian to the young prince, atid proteftor of the empire. 
priHur^^ He Cgnalizcd the beginning of his adminiftration with a 

complete 



The Conftaniinopolitan Hiftoryi 179 

complete vi£lory over Michael Angelus, defpot of Epirus^ ' 
who^ taking advantage of the diflraciiqns of the flate after 
the death of Vataces, had broken into Thrace and Mace- 
don, at the head of a numerous arn>y ; but was obliged to 
retire into hi§ own dominions by John Palseologus, the pro- 
tedlor's brother, after having loft, in a defperate engage- 
ment, the flower of his army. When intelligence of this 
viftory was brought to Magnefia, where Palaeologus reG^- 
ed, he was, by the moft powerful amopg the nobility, and 
the populace, faluted wjth the title of emperor, which he» 
did not rejeft. The patriarch threatened to excommuni- 
cate both Palaeologus and his adherents ; but the proteftor 
binding himfelf, by a folemn oath, to reiign the empire to 
the young prince, as foon as he (hould be of age^ the ere* 
dulous patriarch was prevailed upon to place the crown up- 
on bis head. 

Palaeologus, thus raifed to the empire, difpatched his bro- Yn of Fl. 
ther Conftantine with a confiderable army into Peloponne- 3609. 
fus, -which was then poffeffed partly by the defpot of Epi- ^^ '*^®' ^ 
rus, and partly by the Latins, but foon recovered by Con- ' ' *^^^* 
ftantine. Michael afterwards pafled in perfon with a nu- fjg ^j 
merous army into Thrace, having nothing lefs in view than crowned 
the reduction of Conftantinople itfelf, the dominions of the emptror, 
Latins being now fo difmembered, that fcarce any thing 
was left to the inadive and flothful Baldwin befides the 
imperial city. However, Palaeologus knowing the difficulty^ 
and dangers of fuch an undertaking, refolved to defer it to 
a more favourable opportunity, and in the mean time to 
make himfelf matter of the cattle of Pera, in order to dif- 
trcfs. the Latins more efFeftually. But being in feveral fuc- 
ceffive aflaulfs repulfed with confiderable lofs, he was ob- 
liged to abandon the enterprize, and retire. However, as 
be was matter of the neighbouring country, before his de- 
parture he difpofed his troops in fuch a manner, that the 
city beirig in fome degree blocked up, the inhabitants were 
reduced to the litmott extremity. 

In the mea^i time Alexis Angelus, defpot of Epirus, at- 
tempting, in breach of a late treaty with Palaeologus, to re- 
cover the places he had loft in Theflaly and Greece, Alexius 
Strategppulu§, a perfon defcended of an illuftrious family, 
and for his en)inent fervices diftinguiftied with the title of 
C2Bfar, wa§ fent againft him, with orders to furprlfe Con- 
ttantinople. Alexius having pafled the ttreights, encamped 
atRhegiumj whejfe he was informed by the natives, that 
^ ftrong body of the Latins was employed in the fiege of 
Daphnufa, that the^ garrifon was in great want of provi- 
fions, and- that it would, be no difficSt matter to furprife 

N 2 the 



1 8o The Confiantifwpolitan Hifiory. 

Yr. of Fl. the city. In confequence of this intelligence, the Greek 
A \^^^\ S^"^*"*' refolvcd at all events to attempt it. Being encou- 
U C loio ^^S^^ ^Y ^^^^ <>f the inhabitants, who coming privately to 
' ' his camp, offered to be his guides, he approached the walls 

Alexius in the dead of night, which fome of his men fcaled with- 
Strateg9' out being obferved ; and killing the centries, whom they 
fulHs fur* found afleep, opened one of the gates to the reft 6f the 
^IwttiMpU *"^y> ^^^ rulhing in, put the inhabitants to the fword j 
andixpils ^"^ ^^ ^^^ {2Lmt time, to create more terror, fet fire to the 
the Laiius. city in four different places The Latins, concluding from 
thence the enemy's forces to be far more numerous than 
they really were, did not even attempt either to drive them 
out» or'to extinguifh the flames; but, ftruck with terror 
and amazement, fuffered themfelves to be cut in pieces in 
the ftreets, or their houfes, which were foon filled with 
blood and daughter. In this general confufion^ the empe- 
ror Baldwin, quitting the enfigns of majefty, fled with Juf* 
tinian the Latin patriarch, and fome of bis intimate friends, 
. to the fea-fide ; and embarking in a fmali veffel, failed firft 
to Euboea, and from thence to Venice, leaving the Greeks 
in ppffeffion of the imperial city, after it had been occupied 
fifty-eight, or, as fome maintairi, fixty years, by the Latins* 
This event happened in the year 1261 of the Chriftianasra, 
ihe fecond of the reign of Michael Palseologus *• [When 
news of the unexpeded fuccefs of Alexius were firft 
brought to t^alaeologus, at Nymphaeum, he gave no credit 
to it ; but receiving foon after letters from Alexius himfelff 
with a particular account of fo memorable an event, tran- 
fported with joy, he ordered public thanks to be returned in 
all the churches, appeared in public in his imperial robeSf 
attended by the nobility in rich dreffes, and ordered cou« 
riers to be immediately difpatched with the agreeable tid- 
ings into all the provinces of the empire. 
ne empe* The emperor having fettled his affairs at Nice, proceeded 
r*r re- to Conftantinople with the emprefs, his fon Andronicos^ 
^rtfrm ^^ ^nate, and the nobility, to take poffeffion of the impe* 
^^ceuCm* ^'^ ^^^y» ^"** '^^ *^*8 refidence in the place which at firft 
fiaatittople. had been deftined for the feat of the eaftem empire. Hav- 
ing paffed the ftreights, he advanced to the Golden Gate, 
and continued fome days without the wllla, while the citi- 
zens were bufied in making the neceffary preparations to 
receive him with a magnificence fuitabk to the occafion* 
^ndpMic ^" ^^^ ^^Y appointed, the Golden Gate, which had been 
ujncings. "o^g clofed, Was opened, and the emperor entering it, 
amidft the repeated acclamations of the inultitudey marched 



1 PacbyAi. lib. i. cap. x^ai. k lib. ii^ ci|^ tj. 

CO 



The ConftantinopoUtan Hiftory. iZt 

on foot to the great palace, preceded by the bifliop of Cf- 
zicus, carrying the image of the Virgin Mary, fuppofed to 
have been executed by St. Luke» and followed by all the 
great officers, the nobility, and the chief citizens, in their 
moft pompous apparel, x^ublic thanks were again returned 
in the church of bt. Sophia, at which the emperor ai&fted^ 
in perfon, with the clergy, the fenate, and the nobility. 
The exercifes of piety were fucceeded by all forts of diver- 
fions, which continued feveral days, the nobility and chief 
citizens endeavouring to excel each other in teftifying their 
joy by banquets and public fports, on fuch an extraordinary 
occafion. When the public rejoicings were over, the em- 
peror carefully furveyed the imperial city : this infpec- 
tion allayed in great meafure the fenfe of. his prefent good 
fortune ; for he obferved the (lately palace of Blachernae, 
with the other magnificent dwellings of the Roman em- 
perors, lying in ruins ; the many capacious buildings that 
had been erefled by his predecefiors at an immenfe charge, 
deftroyed by fire, and other unavoidable accidents of war^ 
iieverai flreets quite abandoned by the inhabitants, and 
choaked up with the rubbifh of the ruined boufes. Thefe 
objefks gave the emperor great concern, and infufed a de- 
fire of rebuilding the city, ai?d reftoring it to its former 
luftre. In the meantime, honouring Alexius as the reilorer 
of his country, he caufed him to be clad in magnificent 
robes, placed with his own hand a crown upon his head, 
ordered him to be condu£ted through the city in triumph, 
decreed that for a whole year his name ihould in the public 
prayers be joined to his own, and, to perpetuate the me- 
mory of fo great and glorious an a£lion, he commanded his 
ftatue to be eredied on a (lately pillar of marble before the 
church of the Apoftles. 

His next care was to repeople the city, many Greek fa- 
milies leaving withdrawn, while it was held by the Latins, 
to fettle elfewhere, and the Latins now preparing to return 
to their refpeftive countries. The former were recalled ; 
and the latter, in confideration of the great trade they car- ^^^ Laths 
ried on, prevailed upon with many valuable privileges not infwragtd 
to remove. The. Genoefe were allowed to live in one of {« cwtinug 
the moft beautiful quarters of the city, to be governed by ** '^ ^^^* 
their own laws and magiftrates, and to trade without pay- 
U)g cuftoms or taxes of any kind. Great privileges were 
likewise granted to the natives of Venice and Pifa, which 
encouraged them to lay afide all thoughts of removing, and 
carry on a trade, which proved highly beneficial and ad- 
vantageous to the ftate. The emperor being foon after in- 
formed, that Baldwin had married his daughter to Charles, 

N 3 king 



l82 



PaUohgus 
puts out the 
eyes of thg 
young em- 
feroTf and 
eaufes him-' 
Jtlf to be 
acknonv" 
legtd foli 
emperor. 

He is in- 

^vol^ued in 

g^eat 

troubles. 



The Conjlantinopolitan HtJlory\ 

king of Sicily, and given him by way of dowry the city of 
Conftantinople, which that warlike prince was making great 
preparations to recover, he ordered the Genoefe, who were 
become very numerous, and might have done great mif- 
chief, if the city had been attacked, to remove firft to He- 
-raclea, and afterwards to Galata, where they continued. 
•The Pifans and Venetians, who were liot fo numerous and 
wealthy, were allowed to continue in the city ". The em- 
peror, naving thus fettled the ftate, and gained the affec- 
tions both of the natives and foreigners, thought of fecur- 
ing to himfelf and his pofterity the fovereignty, which he 
only held in truft, and was to refign to the young prince as 
foon as he came of age. Caufing himfelf to be crowned 
again, in the imperial city, he foon after ordered the young 
•prince to be deprived of his fight, pretending, that no one 
but himfelf had any title to the city or empire of Conftan- 
tinople, which he alone had recovered from the Latins. 

This treafon and barbarity involved him in endlcfs trou- » 
bles and dangers. Arfenius the patriarch immediately eif- 
communicated him, and all thofe who had been acceflary 
to his c-rime ; a ftep which occafioned great difturbances in 
the city. At the fame time Michael, defpot of Epirus, and 
Conftantine, king of Bulgaria, who had married the young 
emperor's fifter, breaking into Thrace, ravaged that coun- 
try with fire and fword. Palaeologus marched againfl them 
in perfon *, but, as he was returning without performing 
any thing worthy of notice, he was attacked by the Bulga-f 
rians, and would have unavoidably fallen into their hands, • 
had he not efcaped by fea on board a fmall veffel, which 
conveyed- him to Conftantinople. The troops he had with 
him were for the moft part killed, or taken prifoners; and 
the Bulgarians, being reinforced with twenty thoufand Tar- 
tars, defolated the country with the greateft cruelty. The 
Venetians, obferving the diftrafted ftate of the empire, 
feized that opportunity tt) recover the iflands in the Archi- 
pelago, which Palaeologus had taken after the reduftion of 
Conftantinople The Venetians were joined by the king of 
Sicily, and moft of the weftern princes, who, combining 
againft Palseologus, would in all likelihood have driven him 
from the throne, had he not engaged pope Urban IV. to 
efpoufe his caufe, by promifing to fubmit himfielf and his 
dominions to the Latin church. The pope perfuaded 
Charles, count of Anjou and king of Sicily, to conclude a 
peace with him ; and Palaeologus, dn his fide, did all that 
lay in his power to eftablifh an union between the tWQ 



^ Pachym. lib, ii. cap. •7"^3|5' 



;hurchcsj 



The ConftantinopoUtan Hijiory. 'iZ^ 

churcheSf acknowleging the fupremacy of the pope in the Yr. of Fl. 
famous council of Lyons, held in the year 1274. This fub- 36«3' 
miffion occafioned great difturbances at Conftantinople, and ^'^^ ^*74- 
throughout the empire, Jofeph the patriarch, and moft qf '^^*^' 
the clergy, openly inveighing againft thefe innovations ; Union of 
clamours which provoked Palaeologus to fuch a degree, that theGntk 
he caufed thofe who appeared moft obftinate to be xmi^n' ond Latim 
foned and cruelly racked, and baniflied the reft, wiih the ^^^^^^^^ 
patriarch Jofeph, in whofe room Vcccus was chofen. How- 
ever, not long after7 Simon of Bire, a native of France, be- 
ing, by the intereft of Charles king of Sicily, chofen pope, 
on which occation he took the name of Martin IV. he fo- 
lemnly excommunicated Michael for having contributed tO' 
the horrid maflacre of the French in SicHy, which happen- 
ed on Eafter-day, tht; thirtieth of March, 1282, and is com- 
monly known by the name of the Sicilian Vefpers. At 
length the unhappy prince, opprefled with cares, was taken Yr. of FK 
ill on his march againft the Turks, who had invaded th^ . n ^*'« 
eaftern provinces ;' and his diftemper increaCng daily, he u'ciloii! 
was obliged to halt at Allogium. There he received the * 
ambaifaclors of the Tartars, whom he had invited to \yi% af- Ike trnpt* 
fiftance, and foon after died, having lived fifty-eight year^, r^r dies* 
and reigned almoft twenty-four **. 

He was fucceeded by his fon Andronlcus Palseologus, Androni" 
who, thinking he could not begin his reign by a more po»- J"^ '*«/-«• 
pular 2iGt than by reftoriog the ceremonies of the Greek ^^*"* 
church, and refufing to acknowlege the fupremacy of the 
pope, annulled what his father had done with refpeO: to the 
union of the two churches : but fuch as had received the 
Latin ceremonies defending them with great obftinacy, and 
thofe of the contrary faftion, countenanced by the empe- 
ror, returning the evil treatment they had received in the 
late reign, the fchifm was revived, and fuch animofities cn- 
fued a$ threw the whole empire into a ferment. However, 
his endeavouring to rcftore the ancient ceremonies offended 
fuch on^y as were attached to the Latin church ; but his 
conduft towards his brother Conftantine eftranged the 
minds of both parties from him. Conftantine was the dar- 
ling of the people ; and being fent by the late emperor his 
father into Afia, to defend the frontiers of the empire, he 
had in feveral battles overthrown the Turks. His great po- Jealous of 
pularity, and the reputation he had gained by his vi£l:orie«, ^'^ brothtr 
rendering him fufpeded to the emperor, he was by his or- ^«|J^^»- 
ders feized and thrown into prifon, with feveral other pcr- 
i6A3 of great diftin£lion, amongft whom was Michael Stra* 

» Pachym* lib. vi. cap. }o. & ultim. 

N 4 tegopuIuSft 



%u 



AUxtus 
Phtlan- 

re*volts } 



hut is hi" 
itayed ty 
his9itm 



The empi- 
Tor*s farces 
defeattd by 
tn$ lurks. 



The Confiantinopolitan Hijlary. 

tegopulus, f6n to the celebrated Alexius, ivhd had reco- 
Tered Conftantinople from the Latins. Upon the removal 
of thefe brave officers, the Turks, under the conduft of the 
famous Othoman, fubdued feveral places in Fhrygia, Caria> 
and Bithynia, and among the reft the city of Nice. To 
put a ftop to their conquefts, the emperor difpatched into 
Afia Pbilanthropenus and Libadarius, two officers of great 
reputation and experience^ appointing the latter governor 
of the cities of Ionia, and committing to the former the de- 
fence of the frontiers on the Mseander. 

Pbilanthropenus gained feveral advantages over the 
Turks } but, elated with fuccefs, he affumed the purple, and 
marched 'againft Libadarius, who had declared him a pub^ 
-Uc enemy, and fet a price upon his head. As the two ar- 
mies were ready to engage, the Cretans, who ferved under 
Pbilanthropenus, and had been previously corrupted by Li« 
badariuSi feizing their leader, delivered him to his adyer- 
fary, who caufed his eyes to be put out. In the mean time 
the Turks, taking Advantage of thcfe inteftine difturbances, 
not only extended their dominions in Afia, but conquered 
moft of the iilands in the Mediterranean ; and being mat 
ters at fea, infefted the coafts of the empire, to the entire 
ruin of trade and commerce. In this diitrac^ed ftate of afc 
fairs, the emperor, diftrufting his own fubjefts, received 
into his pay ten thoufand MaiTagetes or Alans, who being 
Expelled their own country by the Tartars, had pafled the 
Danube. Thefe being fent into Afia, under the conduft 
of Michael, the emperor's eldeft fon, whom he had lately 
declared his colleague in the empire, the Turks, at their 
approach, retired to the mountains ; whence foon after they 
came fuddenly down, and afTaulting the Mafiegetes, while 
they lay in camp, without the leaft apprehenfion of danger, 
mured them notwithftahding all the efforts of the young em- 
peror, who on that occafion diftinguifhed himfelf in a moft 
eminent manner, but was in the end obliged to retreat, and 
take refuge in the ftrong caftle of Magnefia. The MaiTa- 
getes, abandoning him, marched diredly to the Hellefpont, 
ravaging the countries through which they paifed, and 
thence crofled over into Europe. The Turks, purfuing 
them, reduced all the forts to the fea fide. Michael, hav- 
ing narrowly efcaped falling into their hands, at length 
teached Conftantinople. 

The emperor, notwithftanding the (hameful condud of 
the Maflagetes, repofing ftill greater truft in ftrangers than 
in his own fubje£bs, of whom he was grown jealous fince 
the rebellion of Pbilanthropenus, took into his fervice a 
body of Catalans, under the command of Eonzerius or Rou- 

^eriusi 



The Conflantincpolitan Hifiory. ig^ 

seritiSy who had formerly ferved'tn the wars between tbe 
kings of Sicily and Naples ; and having conferred extraor*- 
dmary honours upon him, detached him with his troops to' 
the relief of Phil^elphia, then clofely befieged by the 
Juries, whom, upon his arrival, be obliged to abandon the 
enterprize and retire. Upon their retreat he turned his arms The Cata- 
againft thofe ^hom he was^ fent to protect, fubje£king lanrnwlt^ 
the inhabitants to the rage and luft of thofe diflblute vaga^ 
bonds. Having plundered the few places that were left to 
the emperor in Add, he returned with his Catalans to Eu*- 
fope, and leaving the reft at Callipolis, went with two hun- 
dred chofen men, to demand of the young emperor Michael^ 
lying then at Oreftias in Thrace, the arrears which he pre- 
tended to be due to himfelf and his troops. Michael, juftly 
provoked at his late condu£i: in AfiZf and incenfed againft 
him on account of his infolent carriage, ordered his guards 
to attack him, who accordingly cut him and moft of his T/^gir itaJ* 
men in pieces^ Thofe who efcaped, flying to Callipolis^ er is killed 
acquainted their countrymen with the death of their ge- ^ '^', '^- 
neral, w^o, tranfportcd with rage, firft put all the citizens J'^|!'^ 
to the fword, and then fortifying themfelves, prepared for ^heyfiixt 
a vigorous defence. However, as they diftrufted their own on CalH" 
ftrength, they fent for aftiftance to the Turks, who in- polif* , 
habited the oppofite country of Afia, and they immediately 
fent over five hundred chofen men to their affiftance. l^hefe 
were foon followed by others, who, joining the Catalans, Yr. of Fl. 
hiid wafte the neighbouring country ; and having with great 3^4i« 
expedition equipped and manned eight gallics, plundered u.'c. io4i! 
all the merchant-fliips in the ftreights, and would have ' ' 
greatly diftrefled the imperial city itfelf, had not their fmall Tke Turks 
fleet been encountered and deftroyed by the Genoefe. On Jirftin Eu- 
this occafion the Turks came firft into Europe ; an event ^^^^* 
which we may defervcdly reckon one of the moft fatal that 
ever happened to the empire. 

The emperor Michael, marched againft the Catalans and 
Turks with a confiderable army, confiftingof Greeks, Maf- 
fagetes, and other auxiliaries ; but the confederates with- 
drawing as foon as the fignal for battle was given, and ftand- 
Jng at a fmall diftance as idle fpeftators, the Greeks were 
fo difcouraged, that the emperor could neither by threats 
or promifes retard their flight. He performed all that could 
be cxpefted from an experienced officer and valiant foldier ; 
but not being able to encourage his men, either by his words 
or example, and his horfe being killed under him, he wasi 
forced to retire, and make his efcape to Didymothicum,i 
where his father lay encamped. After this viflory the Ca- 
^^lans and Turks over-ran all Thrace, deftroying every 

thing 



\^ gg The ConfianttnopoUtan Hiftory. 

thing with fire and:fword, till finding it impoffiblc for them 
to fubfift longer in that country, the Catalans rcfolvcd to 
Thraara- invade Theffaly ; but the Turks, dcfiroua of returning home 
n;aged by With their booty, feparated from them, being then thirteen 
the Cata- thoufand horfe and eight hundred foot. Direfking their 
lans and march through Macedon, they acquainted the emperor, that 
^ '* they were ready peaceably to depart, provided he would 
' grant a fafe pafiage through his dominions^ and fupply them 
with (hips to tranfport them into Afia. To this propofal 
the emperor readily conformed, and^ accordingly ordered 
the neceffary veflels to be prepared with the utmoft expe- 
dition. But the Greek officers, obfervingthe imdoienfe booty 
-with which they were loaded, began to contrive how they 
ihould make themfelves mafters of it, and in the end re- 
folved to attack the Turks in the night, and by cutting them 
all off, revenge the injuries they had done to the fubjeds 
of the empire, and enrich themfelves with the booty. The 
matter yras not managed with fuch fecrecy but the Turks 
had timely intimation of their defign. Hereupon, having 
furprifed a ftrong caille in that neighbourhood, they pre- 
pared for a vigorous defence ; and at the fame time found 
means to acquaint their countrymen on the other fide of 
the ftreights with the danger that threatened them, who, 
allured with the hopes of booty, haite^ed to their alfiftance, 
and croffing the Hellefpont, ravaged the adjacent country, 
^making excurfions to the very gates of ^Conilantinople. 

The emperor, roufed by the daily complaints of the4)eo- 
ple, refolved to exterminate the Turks; and accordingly 
inarched againft them with all his forces, the country-peo- 
ple aifembling from all parts with their fpades, mattocks, and 
other inftruments of hufbandry, in order toaflift him in the 
reduftion of the cattle. The Turks were greatly alarmed at 
their approach, and confidered themfelves as inevitably loft; 
but afterwards obferving that the Greeks, who had clofely 
befieged the place, confiding in their ftrength and numbers, 
neglefled all difcipline, they refumed courage, and fallying 
out with no more than eight hundred chofen horfe, pene- 
trated, almoft without oppofition, to the emperor's tent; 
a circumftance which ftruck the undifciplined peafants with 
TA/ empe- f^ch terror, that they fled with precipitation. Their ex- 
ror's forces ample was followed by the reft of the army, though the 
defeated by emperor, and fome of the officers, made fcveral bold eflbrts, 
the lurks I hoping to ftop the flight of the difpirited multitude ; but the 
cowardly Greeks could not by any means be prevailed upon 
to encounter the enemy, who, after having made a dread- 
ful flaughter of the fugitives, and taken fome of the chief 
officers prifonersj ftormed the eniperor^s camp^ in which 

they 



< 



The Conftantinopolitan Htftory* 187 

they found a' large fum, defigned for the payment of the . . 
troops, feveral ftandards, fhe imperial crown enriched with 
precious ftones of an ineftimable value, and all the baggage 
of the army. 

After this unexpefted viftory the Turks ravaged Thrace ^j^^ ^^, 
for two years without oppofition 5 which brought bnfpeak^ 'vagg 
able calamities upon the inhabitants, confined within their "Thrace* 
walled towns, without daring to till their ground. At length 
Philes Palaeologus, a perfon nearly related to the emperoiS * 
touched with the calamities of his country, obtained per*- 
miffion to march again ft the enemy, with fuch offiiiers and 
foldiers as the emperor ihould think fift tp appoint for that 
fervice, not doubting but, with the af&ft^Ce of HeaV6n', he " • « v 
fliould revenge the injuries done to his country, and rettirn '• 
in triumph. As Philes was an entire ftranger to tne art 6f 
war, but remarkable for his piety and the integfky of h& 
life, the emperor efteeming him chofen by Provt^dtehce for 
the relief of his opprefled country, readily cofnplicd with 
his requeft. Philes' firft care was to eftabli(h proper difct- 
pline among his foldiers, exhorting them to live with ttw^ 
perance and fobriety, encouraging them with frequent giff^, 
and promifing to reward each of them, at the end of thfc 
war, according to his deferts. Having thus modelled his 
fmall army according to his defire, he took the field, att^d- 
ed by the prayers and good wiihes of the emperor, , and the 
whole people Being informed, foon after his departure 
from Conftantinopie, thatChaleb, the Turkifli commander, 
was ravaging the country 'about Bizia, with one thoufand foot 
and two hundred horfe^ he marched<» immediately againft 
him ; and encamping the third day in a large plain near a 
little rivei' called Xerogipfum, he received at midnight cer- 
tain intelligence, that the enemy, with their booty, were ap- 
proaching. Having therefore drawn up his men in order 
of battle, and, with a pathetic fpeech, encouraged them to 
exert themfelves in the defence of their country, he waited 
the enemy*s arrival, who began to appear at fun-rifing. 

The Turks, not in the leaft terrified, having formed a 
ftrong barricade with their waggons, and fecured their prl- 
foners, advanced in good order againft the imperial troops, 
who received them with great refolution and intrepidity, 
Philes, having firft invoked the divine affiftance,- charged, 
at the head of the right wing, the enemy^s cavalry, who be- 
gan to give Mray ; but his horfc being killed under him he > 
Was obliged to withdraw ; a circumftance which fomewhat 
damped the ardour of his men. However, he quickly ap- 
peared again at the head of the army ; and falling with frefli 
Vjgo^r upon the enemy with ibe moft refplute of his men, 

put 



1 88 The Conftantifu^UtoH Hijlory^ 

ha uri put ^^^ horfe to flighty and then difmounting, charged their 
#a;#r* footat the bead of his inflntiy; v^ith fuch refolution, that 

thro^wu hf the Turks, no longer able to withftand them, fled with pre* 
'£d1'' ^^' c*P^*^**^"' Philes purfucd them with great flaughter to th^ 
^*'' entrance into the Cherfoncfus, with a defign to cut off their 
communication with the neighbouring countrj^. The eo^ 
peror, tranfported with joy at this victory, difpatched im- 
mediately five gallies, which were reinforced with eight 
' more fent by the Genoefe of Pera^ to guard the ftreigfats^ 
and prevent their receiving any afliflance from AGa. A^ 
ihewme time Phiies* army was reinforced with two fauor 
dred chofen hor&y fumiihed by Crales^ king of Servia» who 
mndmn hl^d married the emperor's daughter. The Ti^rks, being 
Jhut up m tb^S furrounded both by fea and land, Philes, advancing 
ikiCfurfi'' ^j^jj iiig forces to the caftle they had feizedj began to batter 
9ifi^* it witVi^n incredible number of engines, which did great 

execution* The Turks, defpairing of relief, and weakened 
)>y daily (kirmifiies, irefolved to break through the Greeks 
iwOfd in band ; but finding them, when they firft fallie^ 
^at, upon their guards and ready to receive them, they re- 
tttrned to their caftle $ yet not fo difcouraged as not to at- 
tempt a few day« after to cut themfelves a way throagh the 
$f rvians ; which attempt proving equally unfuccefsful, they 
b^^n to defpair. paving therefore caft away their arm$, 
and taken with them their gold and filver^of which they ba^ 
gi^at plenty, in the dead of night they retired towards 
the' fea-fide» with a defign to furrender themfelves to the 
Genoefe> who, they hoped, would fliew them n;iore mercy 
than the Greeks, as they had never injured nor provoked 
ihem ; -but the night proving dark, many of them, miftak- 
ing the Greek fcNt the Genoefe gall^es, fell into the hands of 
their moft implapaMe enemies, by whom they were mafl*^- 
^tyari cred without comp3i^ion« The red; fared not much better; 
aU cut to jpcy ^j^e Genoefe killed fach as brought the moft money with 
iT^/i ^^ them* left in time they Aould difcover it to the Greeks, whp 
^ would have claimed it. The poorer fort they loaded wjitji 
chains^ fending fome of them to the emperor, and keeping 
the reft for their own flaves **. Thus was Europe delivered 
for the prefent from the Turks i but the time is apprpachii^ 
when wefliall fee them, through the indolence of the em- 
perors, and the cowardice of the Greeks, firmly eftabliflied 
pn this fide the ftreighcs, to the total ruin of the emj)ire. 

The unhappy emperor was foon after involved in ^eater 
troubles: Michael, his eldeft £pn, and colleague in ibe eaL* 

o Gregor. lib.iii. 4;ap. -isw-tj. Cantacuzen* lib. iii. Facbyin. liU 
jx. cap. lOj SI. 



7he ConftantinopoUtan H]fioiy,. 189 

pire, had tWo fons, Andronicus and ManueU of whom the Andromkus 
former was greatly beloved by his grandfather Andronicus^ thej^g' 
though a youth of a moft untra£iable temper, debauchedi ^» ^ ^W" 
difibiutei and abandoned to all manner of wickednefs* Be- •?'*'''*''• 
ing greatly addided to women, and fufpeding he had fome 
rival in the affeftions of his favourite miftreis, he ordered 
certain ruffians to watch her one night, and difpatch the 
perfon that (hould come to vifit her. It unluckily happened^ 
that Manuel came that very night, with little or no attend* ^ 
ance, to the houfe, in queft of his brother : the afiaffins^ 
not knowing him in the dark, miftook him for the prince's 
rival, and gave him feveral wounds, of which he died a few 
days after. When news of his death were brought to the 
emperor Michael his father, the good prince was fo afFe£l:ed 
with it, that he died foon after of grief. The grandfather 
Andronicus, notwithftanding his deep concern for the death 
of Manuel, ftill continued to cheriih and favour Androni* 
cus, who, returning his kindnefs with the utmoft ingrati* 
tude, contra£led an intimate friendfhip with Syrgiannesi 
John Cantacuzenus, Theodorus Synadenus, and Alexius 
Apoc^ucus, all perfons difafFef^ed to the emperor, and ready 
to embrace the firft opportunity that offered to raife dip* 
turbances in the Empire. As they were men of uncommon 
parts, and great experience in affairs of ftate, they foon 
gained an afcendant over the young prince. Finding him* a 
fubje^ proper for their defigns, they infpired him with a 
third after power, and a total averfion to the aged emperor 
his grandfather. , 

The court being rent into two oppofite fa^ions, that of 
the young prince grew daily more powerful. The emperor ne empi* 
did all that lay in his power to reclaim him; but his endea^ rwtndea* 
vours proving unfuccefsful, he refolved publicly to reprove '^^*^ 
him before the patriarch, and tfhe chief of the nobility. The 2S«Xjjfc' 
prince, receiving timely intimation of his grandfather's de- 
fign, went to the palace, attended by a great number of his 
followers and partifans, with arms under their garments, 
ready, if any violence was offered to the ypunj^ prince, to 
mfli upon the aged emperor with their drawn (words, and, 
difpatching him, proclaim Andronicus emperor : but the 
emperor, who was paffionately fond of him, reproved the 
^outh in fo tender and a':6^e&ionate a manner, that, burft- 
&ng into tears, hf fell at his grandfather's feet, and promifed 
an entire fubmtffion for the future. The grandfather, on 
htsftde, embracing him with paternal affe£lion, promifed to 
^point him his heir, and name him for his fuccefibr in the 
empire. Thus they parted, thoroughly reconciled : but this 
recoQciliatioa wn fliort'^fii^ %iat^3skt princoj ^returning to 

his. 



1 90 ^e ConJlantimpoUtan Hijlory* * 

bis difiblute counfellors and companions, foon fell from the 

refolution he had taken, and began to entertain the fam^ 

ambitioifs thoughts he had adopted before. The emperor, 

perceiving he was become irreclaimable, refolved to fecure 

him, and by that expedient prevent the difturbances in which 

he forcfaw the ftate would be otherwife unavoidably involv- 

Th young ^» This refolution was communicated by the emperor to 

^'^Y^ A' Gerafimus the patriarch, and by him fcandaloufly betrayed 

'"f " " to the prince, who fled with his accomplices and partifans, 

the very night he was to have be<en apprehended, and ef- 

Caped to Adrianople. 

Yr. of Fl. ' 'f he emperor, upon the firft notice of his flight, declared 

A o - ^^^ ^ public enemy, profcribed all his adherents, and obliged 

U C 2070* ^he in,habitants of Conftantinople, whofe fidelity he fufpeft- 

.U .' ed, to renew their oath of allegiance. Gn the other hand, 

andoptnly the prince, arrived at Adrianople, was acknowleged empe- 
ri*volts> ror by Syrgiannes, Cantacuzenus, and the other oflScers, wha 
commanded the troops quartered in Thrace ; fo that, find- 
ing himfelf in a few days at the head of a.confiderable army, 
he detached a ftrong body of horfe and foot to attempt, un- 
der the condudt of Syrgiannes, Conftantinople, before the 
citizens could put themfelves in a pofture of defence. The 
emperor, alarmed at their approach, difpatchedTheoleptus, 
biihopof Philadelphia, with other perfons of diilin^iion, to 
* the young prince, then encamped at Oreftias, with propo- 
fels for an accommodation; which, after a warm and long 
neempe* debate, was concluded on the following terms ; that the em- 
ror obliged pire (hould be divided, and the prince have Thrace, from 
%femfi Chriftopolis to Rhegium, and the fuburbs of Conftantinople, 
iuithhim^ ^*^^ ^^^ fliare ; that his followers (hould enjoy, without mo- 
leftation, the lands and honours he had conferred upon 
them ; and that, on the other hand, the emperor fhould re- 
tain Conftantinople, with all the cities and iflands in the 
Eaft ; and in the Weft the whole country lying between 
Chriftopolis and Dyrrachium p. 

In the mean time the Turks, taking advantage of thefein- 

teftine broils, extended their dominions in Afia, reduced 

many places on the Maeander, and among the reft, the ftrong 

Yr. of Fl. and important city of Prufa in Bithynia. Othoman had 

A rf ^^* fome years before attempted to take it by ftorm ; but being 

U e 2076.' ''^"^fsd with great lofs, he had built two ftrong caftles at 

* ' a (mail diftance from the city, and left numerous garrifons, 

frufa ta- uiider the command of two of his heft generals, A£lemur 

ken by the and Balabanzuch, who, by cutting off all communication 

^urks. between the place and the neighbouring country, reduced 

. p Greg, & Cantacua* lib« i. cap. x— 13. . . 

the 



■ 7he ConftantinopoUtan Hijloty. igr 

the inhabitants and the garrifon to the utmoft extremity: 
Great numbers of them died for want of neceffaries, the reft, 
defpairing of relief, were obliged to capitulate, and fubmit 
to Orchanes, the fon of Othoman, who was then indifpofedi 
on the following terms ; that the inhabitants and garrifon 
fliould be allowed to retire unmolefted whither they pleafed, 
and to take with them all the effedls they could carry on 
their backs. Thefc two articles were faithfully obferved by 
Orchanes, who, entering Prufa, took poiTeflion of that im- 
portant place in the year 1327, and, upon the death of his 
father Othoman, made it the feat of the Turkifli empire. 

To return to Andronicus: the agreement between him and T^g empi^ 
his grandfon was but of Ihort duration; for Syrgiannes, who ror and liU 
had firft advifed the young princelo revolt, not thinking his i^^ifon 
fervices fufficiently rewarded, wi^ote letters full of fubmif- J-^J^ 
(ion to the emperor, and, upon promife of pardon, with- 
drew privately from the army in Thrace, and repaired to 
Conftantinople, where he incenfed the emperor againft his 
grandfon to fuch a degree, that the war was renewed on 
both tides. Conilantine, the emperor's fon, was fent with 
a confider able army to TheiTalonica, to take upon him the 
• government of Macedon, and to invade the territories lately 
ceded to the prince, while Syrgiannes, at the head of a body 
of Turks, who had entered into the emperor's fervice, re- 
duced that part of Thrace, which lay next to Conftantinople; 
Againft Syrgiannes the prince difpatched Synadenus, an of- 
ficer of great reputation \ but marched in perfon againft his 
uncle Conftantine, being incenfed againft him for having 
feized on bis mother Xene, and fent her prifoner to Con- 
ftantinople. Conftantine gained Several advantages over 
him; which reduced him to great difficulties : but the prince 
having reported, that his grandfather was dead, Conftantine 
was fo alarmed at^he unexpefted news, to which he gave . 
entire credit, that he retired in the utmoft confternation to 
TbefTalonica. He had not been long in that city, when he 
vas informed, that the emperor w^s alive ; and fooii after 
received letters from him, With orders to apprehend twenty- 
five of the chief citizens, fufpeded of maintaining a private 
correfpondence with the prince, and fend them in chains to 
Conftantinople. The letters were delivered to Conftantine 
with the utmoft fecrecy ; but the citizens neverthelefs, -re- 
ceiving timely intimatioaof the danger that threatened them, 
armed the populace ; who feizingon Conftantine, delivered 
bim to his nephew, by whom he was kept clofely confined 
aB long as he lived. At the fame time the Turks under Syr- 
giannes, quitting the emperor's fervice, retired home; a 

circumftance 



ig2 ^e Conjiantinopolitan Hi/lory. 

drcumftance which obliged that general to return haftily to 
Conftantinople. 

Upon his retreati Synadenus reduced feveral places in 
Thrace, and threatened to befiege the imperial city itfelf. 
ne peace The emperor was alarmed to fuch a degree that he releafed 
renewed. Xene, and fent her to her fon, then encamped at Rhegium, 
with propofals for an accommodation ; which were readily 
embraced by the prince, the emperor promifing to take him 
for his colleague in the empire, and to caufe him to be fo- 
lemnly crowned, with his wife Anne of Savoy, whom he 
had lately married upon the death of Irene his firft wife* 
The ceremony was accordingly performed in the church of 
St. Sophia, with the utmoft magnificence ; but the prince, 
urged by ambition, and iinpatient of a colleague, refolved 
ibon after to remove his aged grandfather, that he might 
reign without control. With this view he entered into an 
alliance with Michael, prince of Bulgaria, his brother*in4aw, 
who was to make a diverfion in Servia, if the prince of that 
They Sfa €oui!try (hould move to the aiEdance of the emperor. This 
^ree again, compaft being made, the prince, withdrawing privately 
from Conftantinople,feizedon the publicrevenue inThrace^ 
of which circumftance the emperor receiving intelligence, re« 
fufed to admit him on his return into the imperial city, or- 
dering at the fame time his lieutenants in Macedon, and the 
neighbouring provinces, to ad againft him^as a public ene* 
my. The prince in the mean time;, by pretending to com* 
ply in any thing reafonable with the emperor^ gained the 
afR^flions of the peo{de to fuclr a degree, that they could 
icarce be reftrained, inConftantinople itfelf, from openly de« 
daring in his favour. Hereupon the emperor, having fum* 
moned ijbe patriarch, and the chief of the clergy, ordered 
them to declare him unworthy of the empire, and exclude 
him from the communion of the faithful. The majority 
agreed that his ^amc (hould be omitted in the public prayers 
of the church ; hot the patriarchy who privately favoured 
kirn, fummoning the people, pixmounced fentence of ex- 
communication againft fuch as (hould prefume to omit the 
name of the young prince in their public prayers*, ^ circum- 
ftance which fo incenfed the emperor, that he caufed the 
patriarch to be depofed, and confined to the monaftery of 
Mangana. 

The prince, who was then at Rhegium, being informed 
of what pafied in the metropolis» approached with thirteen 
hundred chofen men, and leaving his army at fome diftance, 
rode up with Canttcuzenus, and a guard of thirty foldiers, 
to one of the gotes^ defiring to be admitted^ to confer with 

his 



Thi CenftanttfH^liian Wfiory^ , 195 

\i\% grandfather. The emperor, acquainted with his it^ 
tnand by Pfaocas Maroles, who commanded the guards in 
the city, fent himi bj the fame officer, orders to retire, 
without attempting to corrupt his fubjefls % fome even re- 
viled him from the walls with moft bitter language : upon 
which the young prince, after having folemnly declared, 
that h9 deCired nothing more th^n to be reconciled to his 
grandfather, whom he charged with all the calamities that 
were to follow, retired to Selymbria, and from thence into 
Macedon, where he took, almoft without oppofition, feve- 7heprtnci 
ral caftles and forts ; and then marched to TheiHilonicai feiza on 
being invited thither by his friends, who, at his approach, fi^'^^^ 
opened the gates, and joined hini in reducing the citadel, ^i^actdUn 
which made a vigorous refiftance, but was at lad compelled 
to fubmit, the prince having furprifed and cut off a body of 
three hundred chofen men, fent by the emperor to rein- 
force the garrifon. The emperor, alarmed at the progrefs 
of his grandfon's arms, applied to the king of Bulgaria for 
afliftance, who immediately difpatched a confiderable body 
ef forces to his relief; but the prince, having in the mean 
time defeated the emperor's army on the banks of the Me« 
lanes, advanced by long marches to &)nftantinople. How- 
ever, three thoufand Bulgarian horfe reached the imperial 
city before him, to the great joy of the emperor, who ne- 
verthelefs, diftrufting foreign troops, from whom the em- 
pire had already fuffered unfpeakable calamities, admitted 
only their commander in chief, and a fmall number of of- 
ficers, into the city, affignlng to" the reft quarters in the 
fajburbs. As this difpofition gave the prince, who arrived 
foon after, an opportunity of conferring with them, he, by 
rich prefents to their generals^ prevailed upon them to re* 
turn to their own country^ 

The Bulgarians being removed, the prince prepared for 
the fiege of Conftantinople ) but in the m^an time two of 
the foldicrs, who were appointed to guard the walls, de- 
fcrting to the prince in the nieht, offered to betray the 
city into his hand : accordingly, being encouraged with the 
promife of a reward anfwerable to that important fervice, 
thev returned into the city undifcovered \ and the followirtg 
^\g«t, while the reft of the guard were intoxicated with 
^ine, with which they hid fupplied them in great plenty, 
they drew up by ladders of ropes about eighteen men, who, 
kurfting open the' Roman gate, opened an entrance for the ^hi dtjof 
young prince and his whole army. When day appeared, the Ccnfian- 
inhabitants were fo far from making any oppofition, that, ''»»/^<^ bgm 
^th loud acclamations, they falutcd young AndLronicus em- ^^f*^'^ '• 
peror. Gregoras, though greatly attached to the old em- 
Vot» XV. O pcror^ 



lo^ 7he ConflaHtinopolitan Hifiory. 

p^ror, and not a little prejudiced agaihft young Androni- 
cus, relates, that the prince, afcribing the fuccefs that had 
.attended his arms fince the beginning of the war to Heaven, 
upon his entering the city iflued orders forbidding, on pain 
of death, any of his officers or foldiers to offer the lead 
Els €on- affront or injury to the emperor his grandfather. The 
du3 to- fame writer adds, that he went immediately to wait on the 
loardsthi cmperor in perfon, and was fo afFefted with the fpeech 
oU empe- ^i^j^]^ ^he unfortunate prince made him, that falling at his 
* feet, he tenderly embraced, and, with words full of duty 

and refpeft, endeavoured to comfort the emperor in. his 
greateft diftrefs. He then returned folemn thanks to Hea- 
ven, for having put an end to the war almoft without 
bloodflied : and repairing to the monaftery of Mangana, 
recondu^ed the patriarch in triumph to his church, where 
he reftored him to his former dignity *i. Young Androni- 
CU8, now matter of the imperial city, and univerfally ac- 
knowleged as emperor, fuffered his grandfather to continue 
in the palace, and wear the enfigns of majefty ; but would 
nvho is di' not allow him the Icaft (hare in the adminiftration, which 
^/i;^i of j^g j^q]^ entirely into his own hands, governing with abfo- 
^^ * lute authority, without even confulting the aged emperor in 
what related to public affairs. He allowed him yearly 
twenty-four thoufand pieces of gold for his maintenance, 
and the imperial palace for his habitation, while he himfelf 
refided in that of the defpot Demetrius. He granted a ge- 
neral pardon to all thofe who had adhered to his grand- 
father, and even preferred fome of his chief favourites to 
the lirft employments in the ftate. 
Jttdroni' • In the beginning of his reign, the king of Bulgaria, enter- 
€us IlL ing Thrace at the head of a numerous army, confiding partly 
of Bulgarians and paftly'of Scythians, plundered fcveral 
Yr. of Fl."^'^^^^» ^^^ ravaged the whole country. Andronicus, hav- 
3677, ing with incredible expedition raifed a confiderable army, 
A.D. I ja8.. appeared unejpeftedly at Byzium, in the neighbourhood of 
U.C.1077. >^hich city the king of Bulgaria lay encamped. His fud- 
"77. den arrival ftruck the enemy with fuch terror, that the fol- 

w/M the .lowing night they decamped, and fled into their own coun- 
Bulgari- try, leaving behind them great part of the booty. Andro- 
rnnr. nicus purfued them, and carrying the war into Bulgaria, 

defolatcd the country to a great extent, till the king, not 
d-iring to venture an engagement, though at the head of a 
very powerful and numerous army, fued for peace ; which, 
after feveral conferences, was concluded upon terms highly 

q Gregor. lib.iv, Cantacuzen. lib. I. cap. 50—59. Onuph. & Gc- 
seb. iaCbron, 

honourable 



The Conjlantinopolitan Hijiory^ , * 195 

honourable to Andronicus. After this accommodation, the 
turo princes had an interview on horfeback, when they con- 
firmed the treaty, >and renewed their ancient friendlhip, 
which they agreed to cultivate by meeting yearly. The em- 
peror, having nothing to fear from that quarter, turned his 
arms againft the Turks, who, taking advantage of the do- 
meftic quarrels among the Greek princes, had greatly en- 
larged their dominions in Afia. Othoman, whom we may 
juftly ftyle the founder of, the Turkifti empire, being lately 
dead, the emperor embraced that opportunity to recover jjerecO' 
fevcral places, which that warlike prince had reduced, and vers Nice 
among the reft the famous city of Nice, with a flrong and other 
caftle on the Sangarius, which commanded the pafles lead- ^^''^i'-^** 
inginto Bithynia. This caftle, however, was foon after re- * 

. taken by Urchan or Orchanes, fon and fucceflbr of Otho- 
man, who, having happily /ettled his affairs at home, raifed x ' 
a formidable army, and entering Bithynia as foon as the 
emperor had left that country, made himfelf matter of fe- 
vcral places, and at laft iayefted Nice. 

The emperor, who was at Conftantinoplc, leaving the 
imperial city, haftened into Afia; and advancing as far as 
Philocrene, encamped at a fmall diftance from the Turks ; 
who, after having haraffed his men with frequent fkirmilhes 
and fudden attacks, fell upon him at^ length with their 
whole army. In this battle both fides behaved with great 
bravery and refolution ; but the emperor being wounded 
in the foot with an arrow, and obliged to retire, his troops, 
no longer animated by his example, retreated in the utmoft 
confufion to their camp. As the emperor had removed to hyvihomhe 
Philocrene, to have his wound dreffed, a report was fpread islntht' 
in the camp that he was killed ^ which fo difpirit^d his tnd deftat* 
oicn, that they fled with precipitation, leaving their camp^ '^* 
*rms, and baggage, to the enemy, who, after having pur- 
fued them for fonie time with great flaughter, feizedon the 
nch booty which they had abandoned, and, amongft other 
things, on all the emperor's plate and furniture. . Andro- 
nicus, after this misfortune, returned to Conftantinoplc, 
^hile the Turks, having now no enemy, to oppofe, made 
themfclves mafters of all the maritime towns in Bithynia,. 
and Nice itfelf, by the following ftratagem : Andronicus, Yr. of tt. 
^hen he left Afia, had promifed to reinforce the garrifon* 3678. 
of Nice with a thoufand horfe. Orchanes, being informed A.D. 1319* 
of this promife, armed the like number of his own men ^'^-^Q?^ 
«ter the Roman manner, and marching with them in per- ^^^ Turki 
fon through bye-ways into the road leading from Conitan- recover 
tinoplc, difpatched three hundred more, armed like Turks. jV/V/5 
to ravage the country within view of the city. As he ap- 

O2 proached 



1^6 The Corfiantinopolitan Hifiory. 

proaclied the place, he pretended fuddenly to hare dif» 
covered the enemy ; and, leading his men againft the fo- 
ragerSi put them to flight, and recovered the booty. 

As this fcene was adied in the fight of the citizens, wha 
from the walls beheld the whole, the pretended Romans 
were received with great joy by the inhabitants ; but thc^ 
gates were no fooner opened thjan they fell fword in hand 
upon the guard, and being joined by the three hundred, 
who were returned from their pretended flight, cut the gar- 
rifoh in pieces, and made themfelves mafters of the city. 
After this acquifition Orchanes, leading his men to thefea- 
^'J***^ fide, befieged Abydus, which was betrayed to him by the 
^NicO' governor's daughter, while his two fons oolyman and Amu- 
media. rath, reduced feveral other important places in Afia, and 
among the reft the ancient city of Nicomedia. As the em- 
peror was at this time feized with a dangerous malady, in 
which his lifd was defpaircd of, the court was in toq great a 
confufion to think of the proper meafures for reftratning 
the conquefts of the Turks in Afia. Thofe who had been 
inftrumental in the late revolution, could not refleO, witb« 
Out horror, on the condition to which they muft inevitably 
be reduced, if the young emperor fhould die, and his 
grandfather be reftorcd to, his power and authority. This 
confideration induced Cantacuzenus, and fome others, if 
Gregoras is to be credited, to refolve on the old emperor's 
Andromens death ; but this refolution being generally difapproved, they 
'*'/^/ all agreed to confine him to a monaftery, and force him to 
amoH^e- take the monaftic habit, and exchange the name of An- 
ry, wkiTf dronicus for that of Antony i a ftep which was tsaken^c* 
kg dies. cordrngly. 

Y f FJ Young Andronicus intended, during his itlncfs, to rcftdre 
'* ^, * the crown to his grandfather ; but, upon his recovery, he 
A D.I 330. fuflFered him to continue in the monaftery, retaining the 
U.C. 10-9. whole power to himfelf. 

* In the mean time the Turks purfued their conquefts in 

A dijbo' Afia, and threatened Europe itifelf with an invafion. As 
^ttace con- *^^ empcfor was not in a condition to oppofe fo powerful 
Eluded an enemy, he was perfuaded by Cdntacuzenus to conclude 
nvitk thi a diftionourable peace with them, in virtue of which thejr 
7'»rk9* were to retain the places and countries they had conquered 
in Afia, and fuffer the Romans peaceably to enjoy what 
they had not yet wrefted from them. Not long after, the 
inhabitants of Thefl^aly revolting, the emperor marched 
\ againft them in perfon *, but while he was employed in this 

expedition, the Tuiks, who obferved peace no longer than 
it fuited their intercft, paflTed over into Europe ; and, hav- 
ing ravaged the fea-coaft, repaflcd the ftreigbts with an im- 

' xnenfe 



The ConfiantiHopoIitan Hiftory. 197 

menfe bootyy and a great number of captives. Andronicas Andronems 
died foon after, in the forty-fifth year of his age, the thir- theycungtr 
Ceenth of his reign» reckoning from the time he depofed ^'''' 
his grandfather, and 1341 of the Chriftian aera. 

Andronicus the younger left two fons, John and Ma- John ?t^ 
nuel, of whom the eldeft was declared emperor; but, as Uoiogus. 
he was then only nine years old, John Cantacuzenus was 
appointed his guardian, and prote^or of the empire, during 
his minority. Cantacuzenus governed with great equity 
and moderation, took particular care of the education of the 
young prince and his brother; provided, as far as the weak 
condition of the empire would allow, for the fecurity of 
the provinces ; and in ihort, omitted nothing that could be 
expe<9:ed from the faithful, zealous, and difinterefted mi^ 
nifter. But as he had been declared guardian to the young TAepatri" 
prince ag^inft the approbation of John the patriarch, who arch an 
thought that office belonged to him, and claimed a fliare in '^^^y^^ 
the adminiilration, the ambitious prelate did all that lay in j^^^l^^^^l^ 
his power to render him fufpeded to the emprefs Anne, young* 
reprefenting that he intended to ufurp the imperial dignity, princis 
As the patriarch had great credit with the emprefs, Canta- guardian. 
cuzenus, apprehending he might gain the afcendant over 
her to his utter ruin, wiflied to refign his charge, and earn- 
cftly prefled the emprefs for leave to retire ; but (he refuf- 
tng to comply with his requeft, and afTuring him, that (he 
was fully convinced of his integrity, and confequently de- 
termined to (hut her ears againft the unjuft calumnies, and 
malicious Infinuations of his enemies, he was prevailed upon 
to continue in the adminiftration. However, the patriarchy 
and his fadlion at court, which was very powerful, by con- 
tiaually alarming the princefs with the dangers flie had to 
apprehend from the proteflor, and mifconflruing all his 
adions, prevailed upon her at length to take fuch meafures 
as involved the empire in a civil war ; for, giving credit to 
the infinuations of the patriarch, ihe began to look upon 
Cantacuzenus as an enemy to herfelf and her family ; and^ 
having cauCpd many of his friends and relations to be ap- 
prehended while he was abfent at Didymothicum, (he fent 
him orders to refign his office, and retire to a private life ; 
2 command which he refufing to obey, till he. had an op- 
portunity of juftifying his conduct, and convincing the Cantaeu* 
world of his innocence, the emprefs declared him a public zemui^gm 
enemy and traitor. ^'^'•^^ « 

Cantacuzenus, now certified, that his enemies aimed at ^'^ 
nothing Icfs than his total deftru£kion, thought it neceflary •'* 
to provide for his own fafety. Being at the head of a povtr- 
crful arsayi which he had rai£sd to oppofe the ServianSf 

O 3 who. 



1^8 7he Confiantinopolitan Hiftorj. 

who, upon the emperor's death, had invaded the empire, 
and having with him feveral perfons of great authority, 
who advifed him to affume the purple, as the only means of 
defeating the defignsof his enemies, he complied with their 
Yr. of PI advice, and fuffered himfelf to be proclaimed emperor at 
}69f. Didymothicnmin 1342, thefecondyearof hisadminiftration. 
A D.I 34ft. When this revolt was known at Conf^antinople, his mother, 
'*^^'* and the reft of his friends and relations in the city, were 
fie ajfumes immediately apprehended, and thrown into prifon, his eftate 
thffurfle. was confifoated, and troops were levied to ftifle the rebellion 
in its birth. Having aiQ'umed the purple, he acquainted the 
nobility and foldiery, in i longfpeech, with the motives that 
had induced him to take that ftep, which, he faid, the ma- 
lice of his enemies had rendered neceflary. He then al- 
lowed all thofe, whofe friends and relations were at Con- 
ftantinople, to depart, left, by continuing with him, they 
(hould ocgafion the ruin of their innocent friends. The reft 
of the army declaring themfelves ready to defend him to the 
laft, advanced to Adrianople, the inhabitants of which city 
had feized on all his adherents, and fent them in chains to 
Conftantinople. On his march he was informed, that a 
numerous body of Bulgarians were advancing to join the im- 
perial troops, and attack him with their united forces. ' 
This intelligence obliged him to lay afide the defign he had 
formed againft Adrianople, and retire to the fea-fidc, that 
he might with more eafe receive fupplies from the Turks in 
Afia, with whom he had entered into an alliiince upon his 
firft aflTuming the imperial dignity. Though they offered 
him large fupplies, ye^ he did not think fit to accept them, 
till he had tried all poffiblc means of bringing about an ac- 
commodation. With this view he wrote to the patriarch, 
UUefer exhorting him to peace and concord ; but the meflcnger 
for a peaci who brought the letters was feized, and thrown inta prifon) 
rejfSed. Cantacuzenus was again declared a public enemy, and his 
relations, who had not the good luck to make their efcape, 
were treated with the utmoft cruelty. 
Ws mother His mother was delivered to Apocaucus, his moft inve* 
u/td with terate enemy, who treated her with the greateft barbarity, 
great cru^ telling her fometimes, that her fon was taken prifoner \ at 
^^y* o'thers, that^ie was killed in an engagement, and his head was 

brought to Conftantinople. Her concern, and the cruel ufagc 
ihe received having thrown her into a violent fever, Apocau* 
cus would fuffer no phyfician to attend her, till the emprefs, 
bearing the danger (he was in, recommended thei unhappy 
►rinccfs to her own phyficians, but who were not admitted 
7 the patriarch and Apocaucus to vifit her, till they had 
fclcmnly fworn not to adminiftcr any remedy for her relict 

Being 



I 



The Conjlanttnopolitait Hiftory. 199 

Being thus dcftitute of help, and daily infulted by her ene- 
mies, (he died, to the great grief of the emprefs, who be- 
ing informed of the unfpeakable miferies (lie had under- 
gone, and highly incenfed againft the patriarch and Apo- 
caucus, obliged them to fend deputies to Cantacuzenus, 
with overtures for an accommodation ; but the envoys, who 
were their creatures, returning, told the emprefs, that Can- 
tacuzenus rejeAed all terms ; that he was obdinately bent 
upon war, and determined not to lay down his arms, till 
he had accomplifhed the ruin of her two fons, and the whole 
imperial family. A war being therefore refolved on, An- 
dronicus and Thomas Palaeologi were "tippointed . to com- 
mand the landrforces, which were to march into Thrace, 
which country^ had declared for Cantacuzenus. At the 
fame time a fleet, confifting of .fixty gallies, was equipped, 
to prevent the Turks from fupplying the enemy with men 
or provifions. Apocaucus took upon himfelf the command 
of this fleet ; and having driven back the Turks attempting 
to crofs the ftreights, and fuccour their ally, reduced Can- 
tacuzenus to fuch difficulties, that he was forced to quit 
Thrace, and take refuge in "ihe dominions of Crales, prince 
of Moefia, who received him with great demonftrations of 
cftcem and affeftion, and placed him at the head of a pow- 
erful army, with which he gained feveral advantages over 
the eypperor's JEorceSy and recovered the greater part of 
'Ihrace, 

His enemies, finding they could not overcome him by Hlsinemtet 
force, bad recourfc to treachery, and with large promifes «'{'^/^^/^ 
prevailed upon Monomachus to difpatch him by poifon. ^ ' 
Accordingly Monomachus, repairing to his camp at Se- 
lymbria, the better to compafs his wicked purpofe, con- 
feiTed the errand on which he was employed ; but pretend- 
ing to be touched with remorfe, he fell down at his feet, 
and delivered the poifon which he was to have adminifter- 
cd, Cantacuzenus received him in a moft obliging man- 
ner, loaded him with prefents, and taking him into his fa- 
vour, repofed fo great a truft in him, that the traitor would 
have foon found an opportunity of putting his deCgn into 
execution, without incurring the leaft fufpicion, had not 
Cantacuzenus been privately cautioned by his friends at 
Coaftantinople to be upon his guard. In the mean time 
Cantacuzenus, having fubdued all Macedon and Thrace, 
approaphed the imperial city, with a defign to reduce it, 
either by force or famine; but he had not been long before ^ 

it, when feveral citizens, dreading the calamities attending 
a long fiege, refolved to prevent them, by admitting him 
pfivately into the city. Accordingly, having firft acquaint- 

O 4 ed 



^ 3^00 . ^ke ConJlantinopoUtan Hiftory. 

ed him with their defign, they fell in the night upon the 
jj . guards, and feizing one of the gates, admitted him and his 

^ei've.d into whole army, faluting him al« he entered with the title of 
Coff/iatf emperor. They were joined by the populacei who flocking 
ti/to/fU, from all quarters of the city, attended him with loud ihouta 
to the forum. The emprefs continued in the palace, which 
flie feemed determined to defend to the laft extremity, hav- 
ing a confulerable body of troops at her devotion } but the 
young emperor earneftly intreating her not to expofe both 
herfelf and him to the fury of the incenfed multitude, (he 
was prevailed upon to come to an accommodation ; which 
was happily brought about upon the following terms: 
that Cantacuzenus fhould be declared colleague to the 
young priiK:e> and have the fole adminiftration of aiFairS 
for the fpace of ten years, Palaeologus being then but fif- 
'teen ; that afterwards they ihould both reign with equal 
power and authority ; and that an a£l of oblivion fhould 
Yr. of Fl. mutually pafs. This agreement being figned and fworn to 
3696. by Cantacuzenus, FalseologuSj and the emprefs Anne, on 
"^ r* '347. the eighth of February, 1347, the new emperor was receiv- 
^ '^^^ * ed the fame day into the palace, and foon after crowned 
^nd ^^^^ ^^^ ufual folemnity by Ifidore, the new patriarch of 

^roivmd Conilantinople, John his predecefTor being depofed, and 
itnfenn banifhed. That the union between the two princes might 
be more lafting, Cantacuzenus gave his daughter Ij^elena 
in marriage to young Palaeologus, and caufed her to be 
likewife crowned, and acknowleged emprefs by the nobility 
and people ''. As Cantacuzenus had been powerfully af* 
lifted by Orchanes, the Turkifli fultan, who had even mar- 
ried his daughter, he could not help entertaining a friendly 
correfpondence with that prince \ which gave great offence 
to the clergy, and fome zealous Chriftians, who, by^ ex- 
, claiming againft fo ftridl an alliance and intimacy between 

a Chriftian and a Mahommedan prince, eftranged by de« 
grees the minds of the multitude from Cantacuzenus. 
Seg§verns However, he governed the empire for the fpacc of ten 
nviih great years with fuch equity and moderation, that even his moft 
^modgrauott. i^^veterate enerhies could lay nothing to his charge. In the 
' fixth year of his adminiftration^ the Genoefe of Galata, 
who were become very powerful, provoked at the emperor's 
not allowing them to enlarge their city, fet fire to feveral 
buildings in the fuburbs of Conilantinople, feized on all 
the emperor's (hips riding in the harbour, and made open 
war in the empire, in which they gained feveral advantages 
at feai and reduced fome iilands in the Archipelago* When 

' Cantacuten. lib« ill* tap* 9o-«*icc« & lib« it. cap; t, s* 

Palaeo* 



72^ Confiantinopolttan Hifiory. 2Cl 

Pafeptegus came to govern jointly with him, Crales, king 
fA the Servians, enraged againft Cantacuzenus for having 
obliged him to reftorc fome cities, which he had feized dur- 
ing th« late troubles, gained over with rich prefents fevc- 
ml pcrfons of diftinflion, who by infinuating to the young 
Mpeiror) that Cantacuzenus defigned to confine him to a 
^ monaftery, to ufurp the whole power, and tranfmit the fo- 
vcreignty to his poftcrity, raifed a jealoufy between the two 
princes, which foon after broke out into open war ; Palaeo- jt'war 
logus being on the one hand affifted by Crales, king of breaks ^ui ' 
Servta, and Alexander, prince of Bulgaria ; and Cantacu- ^J''"''** 
tenus on the other by Orchanes, the Turkilh fultan. In a \riiixeu 
battle which was fought in Thrac'e, the young emperor's 
army was totally defeated, and himfelf obliged to take re- 
fuge in Conftantinople, all the other cities in Thrace hav- 
ing opened their gates to the conqueror. However, a peace Yr. of Fl, 
was concluded between the princes ; which was no fooner 3704. 
figned, than Cant^cuisenus, divefting himfelf of all power, A.D. 1355. 
retired to the monaftery of Mangana, and took the monaf- '^'^^ ^ 
tic h^bit. But his fon Matthew, whom he had fqme time Cantacu^ 
before declared emperor, purfued the war, and furprifed ^nui rem 
fevcral cities in Thrace, and among the reft Adrianople. figns* 
Palaeologus marched againft him in perfon ; and having de- 
feated his army, though reinforced before the battle with 
five thoufand Turks fent by Orchanes, obliged him to quit 
the field, and take refuge in one of his fortreffes j whence, 
while he was making his efcape at the approach of the em- 
peror's army, he was feized by Boienas, and delivered to 
Palaeologus, who, upon his renouncing allclaim to the em- 
pire, fet him at literty •• 

During thefe civil commotions, the Turks, under the 
conduft of Solyman, the fon, or brother of Orchanes, pafled 
the Hellefpont, and having feized on a ftrong caftle called 
Coitldocuuron, marched from thence againft Gallipolis, 
whichrlSolyman took, after having defeated the governor of 
the place, who came out with the garrifon to give him bat- 
tle. Thus the Turks, after having reduced all Afia, firft y^j^ *turh 
fettled in Europe, where they have continued ever fince. firft fittUd 
This event happened in the year 1357. Orchanes dying in Europe. 
foon after, Amurath, his fon an.d fucceflbr, purfued the y ^ «. 
conqucfts which Solyman had begun ; and having fubducd ^735. * 
great part of Thrace, laid fiege to Adrianople, which was A.D. 1357. 
forced to fubmit, the emperor not being in a condition to U.C. 2106. 

""^ithftand fo powerful an enemy. Amurath having in a "~ 7^ 

fcort time conquered all Thrace, made Adrianople the feat ^^^^^^^^ 

* CantacU2en« lib« ill. cap. 32*— 49* 

of 



g02 ^^^ ConfiantinopoUtan ISJlory. 

of US' empire in Europe, as the moft proper place for en-* 
larging his dominionSf and extending his conquefts to 
Greece, and the neighbouring provinces. In the mean 
time Andronicus, the emperor's eldefl fon, having confpir^ 
cd againft his father, was by his orders deprived of fight5 
and kept under clofc coi^finement. However, after two 
years imprifonment, he made his efcape, being favoured by 
the Gcnoefe of Galata, with whofc afTiftance he made war 
upon his father. Being admitted into Conftantinbple, he 
was proclaimed emperor ; and having got his father and 
two brothers, Manuel and Theodorus, into his power, he 
confined them to the fame prifon in which he had been 
detained ; but they having likevvife, after two years, made 
their efcape, Andronicus, dieading the calamities of a civil 
war, while the Turks were ready to feize on the few coun^ 
tries ftill left to tlie empire, reftored his father and. brother 
to the throne, who thereupon gave him Selymbria, and 
feveral other places in that neighbourhood ^ 

In the mean time Amurath the Turkifli fultan being 
treacheroufly flain, his fon Bajazet fucceeded him in his 
dominions', and, purfuing the conquefls which had been 
fo fuccefsfully carried on by his predeceflbrs in Europe, rc- 
Bafaxifs duced Theflaly, Macedon, Phocis, Peloponnefus, Myfia, 
e^nquefls in and Bulgaria, driving out the defpots, or petty princes, who 
Murope. governed thofe countries. Elated with his frequent victo- 
ries, he began to confider the Greek emperor, to whom 
nothing was now left but Conftantinople, and, the neigh- 
bouring country, as his vaflal, and, accordingly fei)t him an 
arrogant and haughty meflage, requiring, or rather com- 
manding him to pay a yearly tribute, and fencj his fon Ma- 
nuel to attend him in his military expeditions. With this 
diflionourable demand the emperor was obliged to comply, 
being unable to oppofe fo powerful and formidable an ene- 
Yr. of FL '^y* '^^^ unhappy prince died in 1392, the thirty-feventh 
374.T. of his reign, leaving no fon but Manuel, the other two, 
AD. 139*' Andronicus and Theodol-e, being dead fome time before. 
XJC. ai+i* Manuel, who was then in Bajazet's court, hearing of his 
T p father's death, haftened to Conftantinople, without taking 
Uolozus leave of the fultan, or acquainting him with" the motives 
^/>j. of his fudden departure ; a circumftance which Bajazet 

Manuel highly refenting, punifhed the officers, who had fuffered 
him to efcape, with the greateft feverity. Faffing with 
great expedition out of Bithynia into Thrace, he deftroyed 
with fire and fword the country adjoining to Conftan- 
tinople, and, after having reduced the neighbouring townS| 

< Pucas, cap. 4i« 

inveftcd 



The Conjlantinopoliiatt fliftory. 203 

•invcftcd the imperial city itfelf both by fea and land. In Bajasut 
this extremity Manuel had recourfe to the weftern princes, befieges 
who, having raifed an army of a hundred and thirty thou- ConJIan* 
fand men, fent it to his relief, under the cohduft of Si- *^^^P^* 
gifmund king of Hungary, and John count of Nevera, 
The weftern troops were at firft attended with great fuccefs ; 
for entering the countries lately fubdued by the fultan, 
they recovered Widin, and feveral other places of import- 
ance in Bulgaria, and invefted Nicopolis. Bajazet, raifing 
the fiege of Conftantinople, marched, with all the forces 
he could aflemble, to relieve the place. 

Upon his approach, Sigifmund, leaving pVt of the army Vr. of PL 
to purfue the fiege, marched with the reft to meet theene- 3741. 
my. An engagement enfued, in which great numbers fell ^•^' *39j« 
on both fides, and the vidlory continued long doubtful. At ^'^** 

length, the French cavalry having diftnounted to fight on^j^^r^^^^^ 
foot, the reft of the army obferving the horfes without their army of 
riders, and concluding they were all cut in pieces^ began 130,000 
to give ground, and retire to their camp. This miftake in- (^f^'^ifti^u 
fufed new courage and vigour in the enemy, who charging 
the Chriftians in their retreat with incredible fury, broke 
their ranks, and obliged them to fly in great confufion* 
The Turks purfued them to their camp, which they took, 
with all their baggage, and an incredible number of pri- 
foners, among whom was the count of Nevers, and three 
hundred officers of* diftin£l:ion, who were all, except the 
count himfelf, and five more, put to death in Bajazct^s 
prefence, after having been infultcd in a moft outrageous 
manner. Sigifmund had thp good fortune to make hisefcape, 
and crofling the Danube in a fmall boat, to get fafe to his 
own dominions. This memorable battle, in which twenty 
thoufand Chriftians were flain, and a much greater numbpr " 
taken prifoners, was fought in the fecond year of Manuel's 
reign, and 1393 of the Chriftian sera**. After this viSory^ 
Bajazet returned to the fiege of Conftantinople ; but find- 
ing the citizens determined to defend themfelves to the 
Jaft extremity, he applied to John the fon of Andronicus, 
to whom the emperor had given the town of Selymbria* 
He entered into a private agreement with him, in Virtue 
of which Bajazet was to place him upon the throne, to 
i«^hich he had a juft claim, as being the fon of Manuel's 
elder brother. On the other hand, John was to yield th« 
city of Conftantinople to Bajazet, and remove the imperial 
feat to Peloponnefus, which the fultan promifed to relin- 
quilh to him and his pofterity. This agreement being pri* 

« Ducai, cap« 14* 

vatel 



S04 



Manuel rt* 
Jigns the 
empire to 

his nephew 
^ohn. 



tinople he • 
fifgei hf 
Bajazet j 



it'Aa is 
$'vercome 
esn4 taken 
prifoncr by 
Tamerlane* 



The Con^aMinopoUt^n H0ary. 

Tately finned and from to by both parties, Bajazet JAC- 
patched deputies to the inhabitants of Conftantinople, offer- 
ing to withdraw his army, and abftain from all hoftilities^ 

Jrovided they would expel Manuel, and place his nephew 
obn on the thronei to which he bad an unqueftionabie 
right. This politic propofal rent the whole city into two 
fa£kion$, fome favouring Manuel, and others declaring, for 
his nephew. The emperor being apprifed of this divifion, 
and appi'ehenfive of the evils attending a civil difcord at fo 
critical a conjun£ture, acquainted his nephew, then in the 
Turkifii camp, that to deliver his fubjeAs from the calami- 
ties under which they groaned, he was willing to refign the 
Ibvereignty to him, on condition he ihould be allowed to 
depart with his wife and children, and to convey himfelf 
by fea to whatever place he ihould choofe for his refidence. 
With this condition John readily complied* Manuelt 
having received him into the city, and condu£led him to 
the palace, embarked on board a galley, and fet fail for Ve- 
nice, where he landed, and from thence went to the feve- 
ral courts of the Chridtan princes, to folicit aid againft the 
overgrown power of the Turks, now become formidable to 
all Europe. He was every-where received with the great- 
eft demonftrations of efteem, and promifed large fupplies, 
all Chriitendom being alarmed at the late conqueft of the 
Infidels. 

In the mean time John being crowned with the ufual 
folemnity, Bajazet reminded him of their agreement, and 
prefled him to a fpeedy execution of the main article, which 
was to furrender Conflantinople, and retire to Peloponne- 
fus or Morea; but the citizens refufing, notwithftanding 
the unfpeakable hardfliips they fufFered, to comply with fuch 
a fcandalous treaty, Bajazet renewed the fiege, and afiaulted 
the city with more fury than ever. When he had already 
reduced it to the utmoft extremity, intelligence was brought 
him, that Tamerlane, the vidorious Tartar, after having 
fubdued Perfia, and the more eafterly provinces, bad turn- 
ed his arms againfl: him, and was preparing, with a nume- 
rous and formidable army, to break mto Syria. Alarmed 
at the danger that threatened him, he haftily rarfed the 
fiege, and pafling the Hellefpont, marched with the utmoft 
expedition to Prufa, which he had appointed the place of 
general, rendezvous, both for his eaftern and weftern forces. 
From Prufa he advanced, at the head of a very numerous 
and well-difciplined army, to meet Tamerlane, who defeat- 
ed him entirely in the plains of Angoria in Galatia, on the 
twenty-eighth of July, 1401. Having taken the fultan 
himfelf prifoner, he, in order to punilh hisexccflive pride, 

cruelty, 



The ConftantinopoUUm I^fiory, 205 

cruelty, and arrogance, confined bim in an iron cage, a- Yr. of Ft* 
giifift which he is faid to have dafhed out his hrains the 3750. 
year following, though fome afcribe his death to poifon ^. ^•5* '**'• 
Manuel was no (ooner informed of the captivity of his '*^^^' 
iaveterate enemy Bajazet, than he returned to Conftanti- Manutlre* 
noplci where he was received with loud acclamations hy j^ond. 
the people, who being incenfed againft John for his fervile 
compliance with the Turks, expelled him the throne, and 
reftored Manuel, by whom he was banifhed to the ifland of 
Lefbos. This great overthrow of the Turks had like to have 
occafioned the total difiblution of their empire both in Eu- \ 
rope and Afia; for the five fons of Bajazet taking arms 
againft each other* a civil inrar was kindled, and continued 
with great fury for ten years. Ifa-Zelebis, Bajazet's third 
fon^ upon his father's death, was proclaimed fultan ; but 
afterwards driven from the throne by his brother Solyman, 
as was Solyman by his brother Mufa. At length Moham- 
med, Bajazet's youngeft fon, having overcome all his com- 
petitors, was univerfally acknowleged fultan, and the fole 
monarch of the Turks. The emperor Manuel, in the mean 
timci taking advantage of thefe inteftine divifions^ and join- ^r. of pi, 
ing fometimes one of the competitors, and fometimes an- aW^* 
other, recovered feveral provinces, which Mohammed, whom y^ q ^***' 
he had affifted againft his brother Mufa, fufiered him peace- *^ 

ably to enjoy till his death, which happened in 1424, the Manuel 
fcventy-fifth year of his age, and thirty-fevcnth of his reign*. ^*f* 

He was fuccceded by his fon John, in whofe reign Amu- John Pa^ 
rath 11. the fon and fucceffor of Mohammed, recovered all ^H^' 
the provinces which had been feized after the death of Ba- 
jazet by the emperor and the other Chriftian princes. In 
the beginning of his reign he befieged Conftantinople, being ConJIaa* 
provoked againft the emperor for efpoufing the caufe of 9n tinoph hgm 
impoftor, who, pretending to be Muftapha the fon of Ba- -^J^^^^. 
jazet, was acknowleged for fultan in all the provinces of the //"^^'* 
Turkifh empire in Europe. The citizens defended them- firceii tg 
fclvcs with great bravery j but, being harrafled with con- rai/e iim 
ttnual aflaults, muft have in the end fubmitted, had not 
the emperor prevailed upon the prince of (J)aramania to 
countenance another Muftapha, Amurath's younger bro-« 
ther, who, having revolted in Afia, was, with the fupplies 
furnifhed by his new ally, enabled to lay ficge to the city 
of Nice, which he foon reduced. This competition oblig- 
ed Amurath to leave Conftantinople, and march with all 
his forces againft the ufurper, who was betrayed and de- 
livered up to him by Ilras, in whom he repofed great con- 

V DttCM, cap. 14* ' Idem, cap. »f • 

' fidence. 



iS 



to6 The Con/laniinopoUtan Hiftory. 

fidence. Amurath ordered him to be immediately ilrangled | 
and then turning his aTras againft the prince of Caramani^y 
obliged him to fue for peace ; which the fultan granted up- 
on what terms he thought proper to prefcribe. Having now 
no other enemies to contend with, he entered Macedon at 
the head of a powerful army, and, having ravaged the 
nifahtii'l country, laid fiege to Thefialonica, which he took, and 
^tf, andfe- plundered with the utmoil cruelty, as he did mod of the 
Viral oiher cities of ^^tolia, Phocis, and Boeotia. From Greece he 
taken* by ^^^^^^^ i^^to Servia, which country he foon reduced ; and 
Amurath. then breaking into the dominions of the king of Hungary, 
befieged the ftrong city of Belgrade, which made a vigorous 
defence, fifteen thoufand Turks being flain by the Chriftians 
in one fally ; a lofs ^hich obliged Amurath to abandon the 
enterprize, and retire. 
John Him- In his retreat he was attacked by the celebrated John 
niades* Hunniades, who cut great numbers of his troops in pieces, 
y^^^'A . and obliged the reft to (helter themfelves under the walls 
^nb! ' ^^ Sinderovia. Not long after, he gained a ftill niore Cgnal 
vidory over tbc enemy in the plains of Tranfylvania, with 
the lofs of no more than three thoufand of his own men, 
whereas twenty thoufand Turks.were killed on the fpot, and 
almoft an equal number in the purfuit. Amurath, who 
was at Adrianople, fent another army into Tranfylvania, 
more numerous than the two former j but they were at- 
tended with no better fuccefs, being cut off almoft to a man 
, by the brave Hungarian. Hunniades gained feveral ether 
remarkable vi£tories over the Turks, and recovered all Bul- 
garia and Servia; but was in the end defeated by Amurath, 
in the memorable battle of Varna, fought in the year 1444, 
the Chriftians being diflieartened by the death of Uladiflaus 
king of Hungary, who, while he was attacking the enemy 
with more courage than prudence, was furrounded on all. 
fides, and cut in pieces. However, Hunniades having 
, had the good fortune to make his efcape, and being ap- 
pointed proteftor of the kingdom during the minority of 
Ladiflaus, who was chofen king of Hungary in the room of 
Uladiflaus, he raifed a confiderable army, and advanced to 
Coflbva, where he engaged Amurath. 
Vr of Fl '^^ battle lafted three days, both armies retiring to their 
* y * rcfpe£live camps when night approached, and renewing the 
A.D. J448. fight early next morning. The two firft days the Chriftians 
U.C. *i97. had the advantage ; but the third day, being quite exhaufted, 
" . . and overpowered with numbers, Amurath charging them 
thVen^ with freih troops, they were, after a long and vigorous ic- 
routedby finance, put to flight, and utterly routed. In this memo* 
thi Turku rable battle, which was fought ia 1448, tbtrty-jfbur thou- 
fand 






f 

The Confimtinopolitan Hljlory. ^ -207 

fand Turks were ilain, and eight thoufand ChriftianSy with 
the flower of the Hungarian nobility. Hunniades made his 
efcape into Servia, and from thence returned into Hungary y. 
In the mean time John Palaeologus, the Greek emperor, 
fearing the vi£toriou$ fultan fhould turn his arms againit 
him, fent ambaifadors to Adrianople, where Amurath re- 
fidedy with orders to conclude a peace upon any terms. 
The fultan received them with great arrogance, declaring 
he would march direftly to Conftantinople, unlefs the em- 
peror furrendered fome fortifications which he ftill poflefled 
on the Euxine Sea, and engaged to pay him a yearly tribute '^^f emfe* 
of three hundred thoufand afpers. To thefe fhameful terms ''^f/**- 
the unhappy prince was oblige^ to fubmit, in order to en- *""^'^^^ 
joy the poor remains of the Roman empire, now reduced /rf^,<///, 
to the imperial city and the adjoining country. theJuUoB. 

However, as he did not doubt but Amurath, when he 
had terminated the war in which he was then engaged 
with George Caftriot, furnamed Scanderbeg, prince of Epi- 
rus, would, under different pretences, attempt Conftanti- 
nople itfelf, he applied to the weftern princes; and the 
more efFe£tually to engage them in his caufe, he promifed 
to endeavour to reconcile the Greek and Latin churches* 
Accordingly, hearing a council was to be held. at Ferrara, 
he went thither in perfon, attended by Jofeph the patriarch, 
a great number of prelates, and the flower of the Greek 
nobility, who were received at Venice, where they landed, 
and afterwards at Ferrara, with great pomp and magnifi- 
cence. From Ferrara the council was removed foon after, 
on account of a plague which broke out, to Florence, where 
the union was efl^ecied between the two churches, and fub- Uniw ef 
fcribed to by the patriarch and the other prelates. The pa- tfn Greek 
trlarch died foon after at Florence ; but the emperor and ^"^'-Xtfri* 
the other prelates returning by land at the pope's charge to ^^*''^^'^ 
Venice, were conveyed from thence in the gallles of the re- 
public to Conftantinople. Upon his return, he foupd the 
people highly diflatisfied with his conduct, and that of the 
biftiops, fome of whom had refufed to fubfcribe the decrees 
of the council, till the money was paid for which they had y f ri 
agreed to fign them. The difturbances which this union ^797. 
raifcd in the church, the death of the emprefs Defpina, and U.C. i44.g. 
the infupportable arrogance with which the unhappy prince ^'^- *'97» 

was treated by the fultan, gave him fuch concern, that, be^ • 

*ng already broken with age, he funk under the weight oif ^^*^ '^* 
his calamities and misfortunes in 1448, the twenty-feventh 'du!!^^^ 

7 Ducas, cap. 30— 3s. 

of 



r''. 



%oi Tii Conjiantinopolitan Hiftory. 

ComfioM* of his reign, leaving the empire^ now confined witbtn the 
tim Pal^» walls of Conftantinople, to hie brother Conftantine ». 
Mohat^^ Amurath, the Turkifli fultan, did not long furvive him % 
wud U. ^^ ^J^^S ^^ ^^c beginning of February, 14509 was fucceeded 
by his fon Mohammed, who bad no fooner taken pofleffiofi 
el the throne than he commanded all his brothers to be 
ftrangled, and ordered bis father's lawful wife (for he is faid 
to ha?e been the fon of a concubine) to marry a (lave named 
« Ifaac. In the beginning of his reign he entered into an al« 
liance with Conftantine the Greek emperor, who, upon in«* 
telligence of his father*s death, had fent to congratulate him 
upon his acceffion to the throne. The ambafTadors were 
received very gracionfly, the new fultan declaring, that he 
had nothing fo much at heart as to live In peace and amity 
with the emperor and the other Chriftian princes. The 
deputies of the Walachians^ Lefbians, Bulgarians, Rho- 
dians, and Servians, were likewife received in a moft oblig- 
ing manner; which encouraged them to celebrate with pub« 
iic rejoicings the acceflion of Mohammed to the throne, 
whom they confidered as a friend to the Chriftians, and the 
more becaufe his mother was of that religion, being, ae« 
cording to the moft credible writers, the defpot or prince of 
Servia.'s daughter. But notwithftanding the friendfliip and 
regard he pretended to have for the emperor, he had no 
fooner concluded the war with Ibrahim king of Caramania, 
who, upon the news of his father's death, had invaded his 
dominions in Afia, than he began to entertain thoughts of 
making himfelf mafter of Conftantinople, and aboliihing 
Hi huiUf the very name of the Roman empire. With this view he 
mikrt9H built on the Europe fide of the Bofporus a ftrong caftle, 
ihe^ Bafp9' called by the Turks Genichicar, and by the Greeks Nco- 
caftrum, oppofite to another in Afia called Afpocaftrony 
which he caufed to be repaired, placing in both ftrong gar- 
rifons. Thefe two caftles conimanded the ftreights, and 
the former, being but five miles from Conftantinopl^, proved 
a curb upon that city, and kept it conftantly blocked up. 

Mohammed had no fooner begun the work than theem« 
peror, and the citizens of Conftantinople, alarmed at the 
undertaking, difpatched ambafiadors to the fultan, with 
orders to do all that lay in their power to divert him from 
his defign. Mohammed was fo far from granting their 
requeft, that though the emperor even offered to pay an an- 
nual tribute, provided he would difcontinue the work, he 
threatened, with the utmoft arrogance, to caufe all who 

> Ducas, cap. 3}* 

Ihottid 



ritf. 



The CofiJidntinopoUtan Hiftofy^ 209 

fiioiild ht £ent to him upon the like errand to be Hayed alive. 
He adde4>. th^t nothing beyond the ditches of the city be- 
longed to Conflantine, and thathe bad an unqueAionable right 
to build caftles and forts in his own dominions* "VV^ben the 
fort in the neighbourhood of Conilantinople was finiihed^ 
the garrifon, left there by the fultan, began to ravage the 
country adjoining to the city, and making ezcurfions to the 
Very gates, returned loaded with booty. Thefe infults oc-* 
cafioued feveral (kirmifhes between theChriftiansand Turks; 
in one of which a confiderable number of the latter being 
killed, the fultan, to revenge their death, ordered his men 
to attack the Chriftians while they were reaping their corn , 

in the open fields, and put them to the fword. The em-* 
peror, upon this provocation, having caufed the gates of the 
city to be fliut, ordered all the Turks within the walls to 
be arr:efted, but releafed them the next day, fendingt at the 
fame time» ambafladors to Mohammed, with propofals for 
concluding a lading peace between the two crowns* 

As the fultan feemed averfe to an accommodation, and 
was afTembling his forces from all parts, Conftantine, ap-* 
prifed of hisdefign, in the firft place took care to fill the 
public magazines, and fupply the city with plenty of all 
forts of provifions; then, by an embafiy to the weftern Conftsnuki 
prinoes, he acquainted them with the defigns of the fultan, hasn- 
and the ftorm that was gathering againft the imperial city, ^">^' 'f» 
the taking of which might prove fatal to all Chriftendom. chrifliam 
That they might the more readily affift him at fo critical a princeu 
conjundure, he renewed the union of the two churches, 
and received with extraordinary demonflrations of efteem 
and refpedi the pope's legate ; a circumftance which gave 
great offence to the ecclefiaflics zealoufly attached to the 
ceremonies of their anceftors, and occafioned a mifunder- 
ftanding between the prince and his people. Neither did 
the emperor's zeal, in confirrning the union, procure hint 
the leaft affiftance from the Latins in the Weft, who, by a 
Arange infatuation, fufFered the city, which they confidered 
its the bulwark of Chriftendom, to fall into the'hands of the 
avowed enemy of the Chriftian name, who, they well knew, 
would not ftop there, but extend his conquefts to the neigh- 
bouring, and perhaps to the moft diitant kingdoms. While All the 
Conftantine was foliciiing affiftance from the weftern princes, /<";'j «« th 
Caracia, one of Mohammed's chief commanders, reduced Y^g^H^'^' 
fcvcral places on the Euxine Sea, which were ftill held by clnflanti' ' 
the emperor, namely, Mefiembria, Acheloum, and Bifon ; nopU takm 
then, advancing towards the city, took by aftault a ftrong by the 
caftle called St. Stephen's tower, and put the garrifon to the ^trkf. 
fword. Other forts in that neighbourhood fubmitted at the 

Vol; XV. P approach 



ft 10 



Yr. of Fi. 
3801. 

U. C. S20S. 

Cau/fanti' 

Dtjpojition 

oftki 

rurkijb 



The Confiantimpolttan Hifiory. 

approach of the enemy ; but Selymbria held out for fofne 
time, the inhabitants defending the place with incredible 
bravery and refolution ; but being weakened by repeated 
aiTaults, the town was taken, and the inhabitants to a man 
cut in pieces. All the forts at;^ cafties in the neighbour- 
hood of the imperial city being thus reduced, Caracia was or- 
dered to fcour the country durjng the winter, in order to 
prevent the inhabitants from receiving any fupplies of men 
or provifions; by which means the city was blocked up by 
land : but as the Greeks were dill mafters at fea, their gal- 
lies ravaged the coads of Afia, and returned with immenie 
booty, and an incredible number of captives, who were fold 
for flaves at Conftantinople •. 

In the mean time Mohammed, having collefted from all 
parts an army of three hundred thoufand men, left Adrian- 
ople, and diredling his march to\rards the imperial city, en- 
camped before it on the (ixth of April, 1453, covering, with 
his numerous forces, the adjoining plains. His Afiatic troops 
were poftcd on the right towards the Bofporus ; thofe of 
Europe on the left towards the haven ; and he himfelf, with 
fifteen thoufand janizaries, and other chofen troops, between 
both, oppofite the gate named Karfias. On the other fide 
the haven, Zoganus, one of his chief officers, encamped 
with a confiderable body of troops, in order to cut off all 
communication between the city and country on that fide. 
At the fame time Pantologes, the Turkifh admiral, appear- 
ed before the haven with a fleet of near three hundred fail ; 
but the emperor had taken care to fecure the haven, in 
which werc/three large (hips, twenty of a fmaller fize, and 
a great number of gallies, by means of a chain drawn acrofe 
the entrance from the city to Pera. Mohammed having 
thus afligned to each part of his army their feveral quarters, 
and furrounded the city both by fea and land, began the 
fiege by planting batteries as near the place as he could, 
and raifing mounts in feveral places as high as the walls 
themfelves ; whence the befieged were inceffantly galled by 
(bowers of arrows. He had in his camp a piece of ordnance 
of a prodigious fize, which carried, according to Ducas, a 
ball of a hundred pounds weight, made of hard black (lone 
brought from the Euxine fea. It had been caft by anHunga* 
rian engineer, who not meeting with the encouragement 
he expedited from the emperor, had deferted to Mohammed, 
while he was employed in building the above mentioned 
forts ^. With this vail piece the enemy made feveral breaches 
in the walls^ which however were with great expedition rc« 



« Ducas, cap. 37. 



b Il)id« cap. 3$« 



paired 



^he Conjianiinopoiitan Hifloryi lii 

paired by the befieged) who behaved with incredible bravery 
and refolution, being encouraged by the eitample of the 
emperor, and dire£^ed by John Juftiniani, a GenOefe ad- JeAnyup 
venturer, who arriving with two large (hips, and a COnfi- '«»«^« 
derable number of volunteers on board, had been by the JU'^^w'^/ 
emperor, for his extraordinary (kill in military affairs, ap^ theempe* 
pointed commander in chief of all his forces : he was be^ ror^ifirtitK 
fides, for his farther encouragement, promifed the fove-. 
reignty of the iiland of Leibos, provided he obliged thd 
enemy to raife the fiege. That brave commander, animated 
with the hopes of fo great a reward, performed exploits* 
fays our hiftorian, worthy of the moft renowned heroes ot 
antiquity. Not fatisfied with repuliing the enemy in their 
frequent affaults, he often fallied out againfl: them at the 
head of his volunteers, overturned their machines, deftroy- 
ed their works, and made fuch a dreadful havock of their 
beft troops, that his name foon became terrible. 

But Mohammed, to carry on the fiege with more vigour, i^oAam" 
ordered new levies to be made throughout his extenfive do- "'^^if!^^ 
minions ; which reinforcements arriving daily, his ^rmy wad ''^^'*'** 
foon increafed to the number of near four hundred thoufand 
men, while the garrifon confided only of nine thoufahd 
regular troops, compofed of fix thoufand Greeks and thre^ 
thoufand Genoefe and Venetians. As the enemy continued 
battering the walls night and day without intermifliion, great 
part of them, with the tower called Baclatina, near the Ro^ 
man gate, was beaten down \ but while the Turks were 
filling up the ditch, in order to give the aflault, the breach 
was repaired, and a new wall built. This circumftance 
threw the tyrant into a rage hardly to be exprefled, wkicH 
was greatly heightened when he beheld from the (hore his 
whole fleet worfted by five Chips, four of which belonged to 
the Genoefe of Galata, and one to the emperor : the latter 
was laden with corn from Peloponnefus, and the others with 
all manner of provifions from the ifland of Chios, where 
they had paffed the winter. When they firft appeared, Mo^ 
hammed ordered his admiral to take them, or at lead to 
prevent their entering the harbour. In confequence of this 
order, the whole Turkifli navy weighing anchor, failed ouk 
to meet them, covering the ftreights, as they were in all 
three hundred fail, from Chore to fhore. The (hips purfued 
their courfe ; and, failing into the midft of the enemy^s tj^^ fktk'- 
^^et, funk fome of their gallies, difabled others, and made ijijteet 
' fuch a dreadful havock among them, that Mohammed could worfiedfy 
*iot forbear rufhine with bis horfe into the fea, as if he in- fi^^Mp* 
^ndcd to fwim to nis fleet, and encourage them with his Jv.'^. 
Prtfcncc J but being foon apprifed of the danjjer, he turned ^^V*^^ 

F % back^ 



2i2 This Confiantinopolitan HtJIoty, 

back, and uttering dreadful curfcs, he tore his liair, and 
upbraided his men with cowardice. Notwithftanding his 
impotent rage, and the loud fhoats of the whole Turkifli 
army, encouraging their mariners to behave more manfully, 
the five fliips forced a way through the midft of the enemy's 
fleet, and, to the inexpreffible joy of the Chriftians, got fafc 
into the harbour *=. 

The Turks attempted feveral times to force the haven, in 
order to attack the city on that fide ; but all their efforts prov- 
ing unfucccfeful, Mohammed formed, and, to the great ter- 
ror and amazement of the befieged, put in execution, one of 
the boldeft defigns we find mentioned in hiftory : for not 
being able to remove the chain drawn crofs the entrance of 
the harbour, and the ihips within it keeping up a dreadful 
fire on the Turkifh fleet as often as they approached, he com- 
manded a large road to be levelled from the Bofporus behind 
Mohammed Pera to the haven of Conftantinople ; and then, by means 
eoftveys ^f engines, the contrivance of a renegado, conveyed eighty 
/w %o€r ' g^^^^^s over land for the (pace of eight miles into the haven, 
land into ^f which he was no fooner matter, the fliips riding there be- 
the haven, mg either taken or funk, than he caufed a bridge,' a work 
110 lefs wonderful and furprifing, to be built over it with in- 
credible labour and expedition. By means of this bridge, 
which reached from the camp of Zoganus at' Pera to the 
-walls of Conftantinople, the city was open to an afiault on 
that fide alfo. The place being inverted, and battered night 
and day with incredible fury on all fides, the emperor, con- 
vinced he could not with his fmall garrifon hold out much 
longer again ft fuch a powerful fleet, and fo numerous an 
, arnly, fent deputies to Mohammed, oflfering to acknowlege 
himfelf his vafl^al, by paying yearly what tribute he fhould 
think proper to impofe upon him, provided he raifed the 
fiege and withdraw. The tyrant anfwered, that he was 
determined at all events to become matter of the city ; but 
if the emperor delivered it up inftantly, he would yield Pe- 
loponnefus, and other provinces to his brothers, which they 
fliould peaceably enjoy as his friends and allies ; whereas. 
If he defended the place to th^ laft extremity, and fuflered 
It to be taken by affault^ he would jfut him and the whole 
nobility to the fword, abandon the city to be plundered by 
his foldiers, 'and carry all the inhabitants into captivity. 
^eempt- The city was already reduced to great diftrefs; but the 
ror rejeHs cmpecor being determined to perifli, rather than furrender it 
•M^ ^^Ji- uppn any terms whatever, theficge was purfued with great 
1'!ot! vigour till the twenty-fifth of May, when a report^being 

•c Diicas, cap. 3^8* 

fprcad 



^he Conjlantinopolitan Hifiory. 213. 

fpread i|i-^e Turkifli camp, that a formidable army was ad- 
vancing^ to the relief of the city, under the condujfi of the 
celebrated: John Hunniades, the common foldiers, feized 
with a panic, began to mutiny, and prefs Mohammed in a if mutlnj^ ^ 

tumultuous manner to raife the fiege ; they even openly y^ '^^ ^«''- \ 
threatened him with death, if he did not immediately aban- *'^^^*"^' 
don the enterprize, and retire from before the city, which 
they defpaired of being able to reduce before the arrival of 
the fuppofed fuccours. Mohammed, though hitherto an 
utter ftranger to fear, alarmed at the menaces of the incenfcd 
and ungovernable foldiery, was upon the point of yielding 
to the ftorm, and raifing the fiege, agreeably to the advice 
of the grand vifier Haty, who privately favoured the Chrif- 
tians ; but Zagan, a Turkifli officer of great intrepidity, and 
an irreconcileable enemy to the Chriflian name, having con- 
firmed th^ fultan in his former refolution, advifed him to 
give, without lofs of time, a general aiTault ^^to which, he 
faid, the foldiery, however mutinous, would not be averfc, 
provided he folemnly promifed to abandon the city to pil- 
lage. As this advice bed fuited the temper of Mohammed, 
he immediately embraced it, and caufed a proclamation to 
be publifhed throughout the camp, declaring, that he gave 
up to his foldiers all the wealth of that opulent city, and re- 
quired nothing for his (hare but the empty houft-s. 

The defire of plunder, and the profpe£l of immenfe booty, 
foon got the better of the fear which had feized the army: 
they all demanded to be led immediately to the afl'ault. The Mohammid 
emperor was fummoned for the laft time to deliver up the P^'^P^^i* 
city, with a promife of his life and liberty. To this fum- ^alfiofm^'^ 
mons he refolutely anfwered, that he was unalterably de- 
termined either to maintain the city, or fall with it. On 
the evening of the fame day, which was Trinity Sunday, the 
twenty-fevcnth of May, the Turkifti camp and fleet appear- 
ed illuminated with an incredible number of lights, fet up by 
the fultan's orders on every tent and veflel, to admonifli the 
whole army, that a folemn fail was to be obferved the next, 
to implore the proteftion of Heaven. Conftantine, conclud- 
ing hotn thence, as he had been privately informed by his 
friend Haly, that on the Tuefday follovi^ing he (hould be 
attacked by fea and land, made the neceflary preparations ConJIantin 
for fuftaining the affault, his life, liberty, and reputation »»«^^^^^/ 
lying at (lake. He ordered in the firft place a general pro- ^^"Jf*^^y 
cefiSon^ after which, in a pathetic and eloquent fpcech, he J^^^^^'J^* 
encouraged the nobility and citizens to exert themfelves in fuftainw^ 
the defence of the empire and the Chriftian religion. He the affault. 
then retired to the church of St. Sophia, attended by cardi- 
iiil Ifidore, i^ud f^vei^ o^her prelatesi who had conformed 

. P 3 to 



3 14 ^he Conjiantinopolltan Hijlory. 

%o the ceremonies of the Latins ; and there> after afllftii^g 
^ith exemplary piety at divine ferrice, he received the holy 
(cucharift. 

From the church Conflantine repaired to the great palace^ 
and, after taking leave of his minifters, as if he were never to 
fee them again, he ordered every man to his poft, and, put- 
ting on his armour, marched in perfon at the head of a cho« 
fen body to the gate Karfia, where a confiderable breach had 
been nfiade by the piece of ordnance which we have men- 
tioned before. Here the emperor, and Juftiniani his lieu- 
tenant-general, with three hundred Genoefe, and a fcleft 
body of Greeks, lay all night on their arms, hearing a great 
noile in the Turkiih camp, and expe£iing every moment to 
nfT^r^$ be attacked. Accordingly, at three in the morning, the at- 
ftiginthi jjj^jj ^jjg begun by fuch troops as the fultan lead valued, and 
f?'f^f • therefore dcGgnirig them for llaughter, had ordered them to 
ifnarch firft with no other view biit to tire the Chriftians, 
ixrho, though few in number, made a dreadful havock of that 
diforderly multitude. After the carnage had lafted fome 
hours, the janizafie?, and other veteran troops, advanced in 
good order, and renewed the attack with incredible vigour 
and fury. 

The Chriftians, fummoning all their courage and refolu- 

tion^ twice repulfed the enemy, but at length being entirely 

exhaufted, and freih troops pouring every moment in upon 

them, they were no longer able to ftand their ground ; fo 

ytJUmani ^fj^t j},^ enemy in feveral places broke into the city. In the 

^Mduiins. ^^^^ time, Juftiniani having received two wounds, one in 

' the thigh, and the other in the hand, he was fo intimidated 

at the fight of his blood, that, abandoning his poft, he took 

refuge in Galata, where he died foon after,not of his wounds, 

but of grief, in reflefting on his cowardly and ignominious 

condp^. The Geneofe and Greeks, dilmayed at the fud- 

den retreat of their general, quitted their pofts, and fled in 

^hi iiffpt- the utmoft confufion. However, the emperor, attended by 

V^*ti!h' Theophilus Pateologus, Francis Cpmnenus, Demetrius 

%fiout> ' Cantacuzenus, John of Dalmatia, and a few more of the 

' ' moft refolute among the nobility, ftill kept his poft^i ftriving 

wifh an unparjallcled courage and intrepidity to. oppofe the 

inundation of the barbarians, who, like a violent, ftorm, 

now ruihed in on all fides. Being at length overpowered 

with numbfsrs, and feeing all his fk^iends lying dead on the 

ground around him, ^^ Whati (he cried aloud,) is there nq 

JJtU kill. Chriftian left alive to ftrike off my head ?'? He had fcarce 

*a\ uttered thefe word§, ivhen one of the epeiny, not knowing 

him, gave him a deep ^ut crofs the face with his fabre : at 

the fame time another coming behindj ^itb a blow on the 

^ ^' ' bac!5 



I 



The Conjlantinopolitan Hijlory* 215 

back part of his bead, laid him dead on the ground. Thus 
died, in the forty-ninth year of his age, and tenth of his 
reign^ Conftantine XV. courageoufly defending that city 
which Conftantine I. had founded. 

The emperor being flain, the few Chriftians, who were and the 
left alive, immediately fled in a precipitate manner, and the '^w» taken 
Turks, meeting with no farther oppofition, entered the city, ^^ P'""" 
and fcouring the ftreets, filled that once ftately metropolis 
with blood and devaftation. They gave no quarter, but put 
all they met with to the fword, without diftinftion of fex, 
a^e, or condition : but of the unfpeakable miferies the inha- 
bitants fufFered, during the three days which. Mohammed 
had allowed his foldiers to plunder the city, the reader will • 
find a minute and affecting account in Ducas, and other 
contemporary writers. Many thoufands took refuge in the 
church of bt. Sophia, but tliey were all maflacred without 
ity in their afylvimby the enraged Barbarians, who, excited 
y their natural cruelty, the defire of revenge, and the love 
of booty, fpared no place nor perfon. Moft of the nobility 
were by the fultan's orders cut off, and the reft referved for 
purpofes more grievous than death itfeJf. However, many 
of the inhabitants, amongft whom were fome men ofgreat 
learning, found means to make their efcape, while the Turks 
were plui^dering the city. Thefe embarking in five (hips 
then in the harbour, arrived fafe in Italy, where, with the 
ftudy of the Greek tongue, they revived the liberal fciences, 
which had been long neglefted in the Weft. When the three 
days were eoipired, Mohammed commanded his foldiers, on 
pain of de^ith, to forbear all farther hoftilities, atid then put 
a period to the moft cruel pillage and maflacre recorded in' 
hiftory. Next day be made his public and triumphal entry Yr. of FI. 
into the city ; and choofing it for the feat of his empire, he ^^o*. 
folemnly promifed to take under his proteftion fuch of the u C 1201* 
inhabitants as (hould continue it, or, being fled, ihould re- ' 
turn to ther ancient habitations, and even allow them the T^etotai 
free exercife of the Chriftian religion. The death of the dijfolution 
laft Roman emperor, the lof^ of Conftantinopk, and the of the Cow 
final diflbrution of the Conftamtinopolitan Roman empire, A»''«>^»- 
happened on the twentyruinth of May in the year of rhe f^an em* 
Greeks, 6961, of the Hegira, S57, and of the Chriftian pire, 
9r3, according to the moft probable opinion, 1453. 



P 4 CHAP, 



C «i6 ] 



CHAP. LXXIL, 

7he Htftory of the Carthaginians^ to the De^ 
JiruSiion of Carthagi by the Romans. 

SECT. I. 

Defcription of Carthage y with fome Account of the Origin 

^ of that City, 

Carthagi /CARTHAGE, the metropolis of Africa Propria for fc- 
nuken \^ vcral centuries, was, according to Velleius, built fixty- 

fwn4id. gy^ yfcars before Rome though ; Trogus and Juftin fuppofc 
it to be fcvcnty-two years older than that miftrefs of the 
world. Livy feems to place its foundation twenty years 
bigher than thefe ; and Solinus exceeds him twenty-fe?en 
years. Tinji^us of Sicily intimates, that Carthage and Rome 
were founded at the fame time, namely, thirty-eight years 
before the firft Olympiad. Laftly, from Menander the Ephe-f 
fiah, as cited by Jofephus, and the Tyrian annals, it ap-^ 
pears to have preceded the Roman sera a hundred and forty 
years. We fliall not take upon us to determi^ie which of 
thefe is in the right, nor whether any of them deferves ah-. 
folute credit \ but it may not b^ improper to obferve, that 
as Carthage confided of different parts, which were (uppofed 
to have been built at different times, we are not to be fur- 
pr ifcd that the ancients (hould have tranfmitted to pofterity 
various accounts of the commencement of the Carthaginian 
power. It is not very material to our prefent purpofe, whc* 
ther we can determine the precifc year of this city's founda* 
tion, or not \ and therefore we Ihall not Be very folicitous 
about it. However, our curious readers may confult Peta-» 
vius, who has been very particular on this fubjeft. That 
learned man, after confidering the contradiftory opinions 
of the ancients with great attention, endeavours to reftify 
their ipiftakes ; and at lad, fixes the Carthaginian sera with 
an appearance of exaftiiefs : for, according to him. Dido 
began to bnild Carthage a hundred and thirtyrfeven years * 
before the ifoundation of Rome^ if, with V^rro, we place 
this in the third year of the fixth Olympiad, or a hundred 
^nd forty-two^ if, with archbiftiop Uflier, we prefer the ac» 
ppwnt of Fabius Piftor, who maintains it; tp \)c ne^r the be* 

# P^tav. Jlatipn. T^ispor. lib, ii, cijp. 13. 

ginning 



The tliftory of ihe Carthaginians. 2 1 "f 

ginning of the eighth (Z). And that this approaches very 
near the truth, fu£5ciently appears from what has been al- 
ready obferted. 

But whatever difagreemcnt may be found amongfl: hifto- ^ke Car* 
rians and chronologers as to the exafl: year af the foundation ^^^^''''fy 
of Carthage, yet it is agreed on all hands, that the Phocni- ^/^M^ 
cians were its founders. Eufcbius * and Procopius are po- i^kamd" 
fitive, that the Canaanites who fled from Jofliu^ retired hi-* an^n 
ther; and St. Aliftin ^ would have it believed, that the Car^ 
thaginians were defcended from thefe Canaanites. Philif- 
tus « of Syracufe, a writer of authority, who lived above 
three hundred and fifty years before Chrift, relates, that the 
firft traces of Carthage were owing to Zorus and Charche- • 
don, two Tyrians or Phoenicians, thirty years before thcde- 
ftrudtion of Troy, according to Eufebius. Appian *, who 
undoubtedly received his notion from Philiftus, attributes, 
this event to Zorus and Charchedon, two Phoenicians, fifty 
years before that period ; and from him Scaliget * correfts 
Eafebius's numbers. What likewife renders the account of 
Philiftus and Appian not a little probable, is^ that the Greeks 
always called Carthage, Charchedon ; for which no reafon 
fp proper can be afligned, as that the perfon who firft fettled 
with a colony on this fpot of ground was known by that 
name. Befides, fomething muft have determined Dido to 
choofe this particular place for her Tyrians before any other. 
Now, no more likely motive can be conceived^ than that it 
had been inhabited for fome time by the Phoenicians, who 
were her countrymen, and from whom therefore flie had 
reafon to expefl the kindeft and moft friendly reception. 
Add to this, that both the coaft of Africa, and the coaft of 
Spain oppofite to it, were known in very early ages to the 
Tyrians 5 for it has been remarked by Velleius *, that they 
built the' cities of Cadiz in Spain, and Utica in Africa, a 

' Eufeb. in Cbron. lib. i. p. ti. Procop. de Bell. Vand. lib, n. 
cap. 10. i Auguft. in Expofit. Epift. ad Rom. fub. inir. \ 

^ Phiiift, Syracufan. apud Eufeb. in Chron. ad Ann. 804. •» Ap- 

pian. in Libyc. Tub. inlt. * Jof. Scalig. Animadverf. in Eufcb. 

Chron, ad Ann. 804, k Veil. Paterc. lib. i. cap. 2. 

(Z) Fabius Pidtor was the ed herein by Onuphrius Pan- 

tnoft ancient of the Roman hif- vinius (2), as well as archbifliop 

torians ( i ) , and a writer of very Ufher. 
gfcat authority. He is follow- 

}(i) LI?, lib. L ii. &c. Die. Hal. lib.' i. Ufler. An. p. 60. ad Ann. 
ul.Per. 3966. Voir. deHift.Graec.lib. iv. cap. 13, &c. (a) Onuph. 
anvin. Antiq. Urb. Iraag. apud Graevium in Theraur. Ant. Rom. 
»om. lii. p. a 15, Petav, dc Doft. Temp. lib. ix. cap. 51. 

little 



2 1 8 The Hifioty of the Carthaginians. 

little more than eighty years after the Trojan war; and Strabo 
declares, that the Phoenicians were pofieifed of the beft 
parts of Spain and Africa a confiderable time before the age 
of Homer. So that both thofe authors ilrongly fupport the 
firft Phoenician fettlenxent mentionedby Philiftusand Appian. 
Elifaiither However, if mod of the events, mentioned by profane 
founded or hidorians as happening before the deftruftion of Troyi may 
MrTi/y of fcem liable to difpute to fome perfons of a critical exa^nefs, 
Carthagi* it cannot well be denied, as being the concurrent voice of 
antiquity, chat Elifa ', or Dido, (ifter of Pygmalion king of 
Tyre, flying with her brother Barca, in the feventh year of 
the reign of that prince,, frgm Tyre, fixed her refidence at 
Carthage, and either founded^ or much enlarged, this noble 
city. The weahh of her hufband Sichaeua, and the Tyrians 
file brought with her, who^ at that time, were the" mod po- 
liflied and ingenious people in the world, enabled her to en- 
» large and beautify the place, if (he did not lay the founda- 

tions of it '^ to wall it round, and build a (Irong citadel in 
it ; to lay the bafis of a moil flourifhing and extenfive com- 
merce, for which the Tyrian nation was fo renowned ; and 
to introduce a form of government, which Ariftotle feemed 
to think one of the moft perfeft that ever was known in the 
world. Dido's arrival in Africa was a hundred and thirty- 
feven years before the building of Rome, according to the 
Varronian account ; a hundred and forty-two, accord- 
ing to Fabius Piftof ; a hundred and fourteen before the 
firft Olympiad \ eight hundred and ninety-two before the 
birth of Chrift, and near three hundred after the deilrudlion 
of Troy ; unlefs, with Sir Ifaac Newton, we fuppofe the 
ancient chronologers to have anticipated that deftruftion 
^ nCfir three hundred years. 

Uamt How this city came to be called Carthage, authors are not 

nxfhence di' agreed. Nothing can be more forced and unnatural than 
rivid. ^g conjeftures of different etymologifts on this fubjeft. 
Servius" feems to come neareft the truth, when he fays 
that, according to the Carthaginians themftlves, who rauft 
be fuppofed to be the beft acquainted with their own origip, 
It received its name from Charta, a town not far from Tyre, 
to which Dido bore a near relation. And this town is 
called by Cedrenus ** Chartica, or Chartaca, that is, Charta ? 

• 

1 Tuft. lib. xviii. Virgil. Mn, \, & Serv. in loc. « Newt. 

Cbron. p. 13. Boch. Phal. & de Col. Phoen. paiTim. " Scrv. 

in Virg. ^n. i. vcr. 37. & Mn. iv. vcr. 75. Cedren. Hift. 

Compend. p. 140 Edi*. Par. 1647. p Schind.Pentaglot. p. 1313. 
Strab. lib. xvi. p. 5x1. Diod. Sic. lib* xix. cap. 93. Corn.Nep. Da- 
tarn. cap. ^. Plin. lib, v. cap. 19, Stcpb. Byz. dc Urb. Ifieronym, 
\a Am. \. iV & LXX. in Jud. i. 



^he Hiflory of the Carthaginians. « 19 

Aca, or Charta Aco, the city of Aca» or Aco, a celebrated 
fea-port of Phoenice, near Tyre and Sidon, in the territory 
of the tribe of Aflier % though pofiefTed by the Tyrians or 
Phoenicians. Though Dido's city was called by the Latin 
writers Carthago, yet its true name amongfl the ancient Ro- 
mans, who undoubtedly received it from the Carthaginians 
themfelves, was Cataco, as is evident from the Columna 
Roftrata of Duilius. 

The Carthaginians were called by the Greeks, fometimes 
Libyans, on account of the country they pouTeiTed j and 
fometimes Phcenicians, on account of the country from 
whence they were originally defccnded. The Romans alfo 
ftyled them Poeni, or Phoenicians, for the fame reafon ; 
and every thing belonging to them, or their city, Punic or 
Poenic, that is Phoenician, or belonging to the Phoenicians. ' 

We muft not omit obferving that, according to Stepha- Caccahethg 
nus and Euflathius, this city was anciently named, in Punici Punicvami 
Caccabe, from a horfe's head, which was found by the Ty- of^ar^ 
rians, when they were digging for the foundations of Byrfa. ^'^'^ 
This was confidered as a happy omen, portending the mar- 
tial difpofition of the inhabitants, and the future greatnefs 
of the city. Our readers will find jbe whole ftory in Vir- 
gil ' and Juftin, and to thefe authors we refer them* In 
the mean time we (hall only remark, that the learned Bo- 
chart ' has (hewn the word Caccabe to have fignified, in the 
Phoenician language, the head of the animal above mei>> 
tioned ; and that, upon account of this event, the Cartha- 
ginians ^ had frequently upon the reverfes of their coins, 
either a horfe's head, or the body of a horfe dimidiated, or 
a horfe entire with Viftory mounted upon him. Moft of 
thefe coins have likewife a Punic infcription upon thofe re- 
verfes, with fevcral other fymbols ; as is evident from Ago- 
ftini, Parura, and others, as well as from the cabinets of 
the curious. 

In order to avoid digreffions on this head, we (hall give 
a fuccin£l account of the (ituation, dimenfions, different 
parts, and power of the city of Carthage, according to the 
condition it was in at the beginning of the third Punic 
war, extra£ted from Polybius, Strabo, Diodorus, Appian, 
and other ancient authors of the bed reputation and au; 
thority. 

Carthage) flood at the bottom of a gulph, upon a penin- Defcription 
fula three hundred and (ixty (tadia, or forty-five miles, in ofCar^ 



S Jud.ver. 31. ' Virg. Mn.\, Juil. lib. xviii. Serv. & Ludovic* 
de la Cerda in ^n. i, Coel. Rbodigin. lib- xviii. cap. 38. « 3o- 

fhart de Col. Pboen^ lib. i. cap. 14. < Ant. Auguit. Dial. vi. ant. 



thage* 



cucum-. 



220 Thg H^ofy of the Carthagimms. 

circumfereDce» %he iftbmus joining this |>eninfua]a to tke 
continent of Africa being twenty-five iladia, or three miks 
and a furlong, in breadth. On the weft fide, a long trad 
^ of land, half a ftadium broad, projefled from it, which ran* 

ning into the fea, fcparated it from a lake or morafs, and 
was ftrongly fortified on all fides by rocks, and a fingle wall. 
In the n>iddle of the city ftood the fortrefs or citadel, ereded 
by Dido, called Byrfa, containing a temple facredto JEfai* 
lapius, feated on a very high hill, to which the afcent was 
by fixty fteps- This temple was rich, beautiful, and of a 
confiderable extent ; fo that when Byrfa was taken by Sci- 
pio towards the clofe of the laft fiege of Carthage, nine 
hundred Roman deferters fortified themfelves in this place. 
At laft Afdrubal's wife fetting fire to it, entirely confumed 
it, together with herfelf, her children, and the nine hundred 
deferters, to avoid falling into the hands of Scipio. On the 
fouth fide, towards the continent, where Byrfa ftood, the 
city was furrounded with a triple wall, thirty cubits high, 
exclufive of the parapets and towers, with which it was 
flanked at equal diftances, each interval being eighty fa- 
thoms, or four huhdred and eighty feet. Every tower had 
its foundation funk thirty feet deep, and was four ftories 
high, though the walls were but two ; they were arched, 
and in the lower part, correfponding in depth with the 
foundations above mentioned, were ftalls, large enough to 
hold three hundred elephants, with their fodder; over 
thefe were ftables for four thoufand horfes, and lofts for 
their food. There likewife was room enough to lodge 
twenty thoufand foot, and four thoufand horfe. The walls 
were weak and lowin one part only, and that was an angle, 
^hich, from the nrft building of the city, had been nci- 
gle£led, beginning at the long tra£i of land advancing into 
the fea towards the weftern continent, and extending as far 
as the harbours, which were on the fame fide. Of thefc there 
were two, difpofed in fuch a manner, as to have a commu- 
nication with one anothd^r, and one common entrance, fe- 
venty feet broad, fecured with chains. The firft was ap- 
propriated to the merchants, and included a great num- 
ber of places of refrcfliment, and all kinds of accommoda* 
tions for the feamen. The fecond, or inner port, was, as 
well as the ifland, called Cothon, in the midfl of it, lined 
with large keys, in which were diftin<Si receptacles for fe- 
curing and fheltering from the weather two hundred and 
twenty veflels, it being defigned chiefly for fliips of waft 
Over thefe were magazines or ftore-houfes, wherein was 
lodged neceflaries for arming and equipping pf fleets. The 
entrance into each of thefe receptacles was adorned with 

two 



The Hifiory of the Carthaginians^ zli 

two marble pillars of the Ionic order ; fe that both the har- 
bour and the ifland reprefented on each fide two magnificent 
galleries. Upon the ifland was the admiral's palace, from 
whence orders wrre ^ ven, and proclamations iflued ; and 
as it flood oppofite to the mouth of the faarbouri he could 
from thence difcover whateyer was doing at fea, though no 
one there could fee what was tranfaflii^ in the inward part 
of the harbour ; and the merchants themfelves, when they 
entered the port, had no profpeft of the men of war, being 
feparated from them by a double wall, and each port hav- 
ing its particular gate that led to the city, without paffing 
through the other. 

Hence it is apparent, ihat the city confipied of three parts, Of how 
Byrfa, Megara or Magaria, and Cothon. Byrfa, accord- many parts 
ing to Servius", was twenty-two ftadia, or near three £ng- '^'51^ 
iliih miles, in circumference ; though Eutropius maintains ^^^-^^ 
it did not much exceed two thoufand paces, which is not 
'quite two Engliih miles. It was notfo precifely in the mid- 
dle of the city, but that it inclined to the fouth, or ifthmus^ 
that joined Carthage to the continent, as is obferved by Ap<» 
pian. The word Byrfa is only a Greek corruption of the 
true Punic or Phoenician name Bufra, Bofya^ or Botfra (for 
It may be pronounced all the fe ways), that is, zfortrefs or 
citadel^ as has been demonftrated by Scaliger ^, Bochartj 
and others, verfed in the Oriental languages, and mav be 
inferred from Strabo, Virgil, and Appian, the fable or the 
ox's hide having long fince been exploded by the learned. 
This was juftly looked upon as the interior part of Carthage» 
furreunded by the Megard^ or Magaria^ that is, the houfes 
or towns (for that the word imports in the Phcenician 
tongue). Its exterior part, according to Servius ; fo that to- 
gether th^y_iormed a kind of double town. Strabo calls the 
fmall iffand in the midft of the fccond harbour, Cothon * ; 
though Appian applies this name likewife to that port or 
harbour itfelf J^, which, if this writer may be credited, was 
furrounded by a ftrong wall, and had one of its parts rounds 
but the other quadrangular. The word Cothon is of Orien- 
tal- extra£tion, and fignifies aport^ not formed by nature, but 
the effe£i of labour and art; fo that this feems to have been 
not a proper, but a common name amongil the Carthagi- 
Dtans, who undoubtedly pronounced it Kathum, orKathom. 
The Carthaginians were fo extremely adlive and indefati- 
"gable, that when Scipio ' bad- blocked up the old port, or 

» Serv. in ^n. i. ver. 3S0. ^ Scalig. in Not. ad Feft. Salmaf, 
in SoUn. &c. ' Strab. lib. xvii, p. 579» X Appian. in Libyc« 
p* 129, &c« » JLiiv. lib. lit eptt* 

Cothoni 



a22 ^he Hifiory of the Carthaginiatls* 

Cotlion, thfy, in a very fhort time, built a newhaven, the 
traces of which, fcarce a hundred yards fquare, are ftill to 
be feen •. 
HgmhiT ef The number of inhabitants this city contained, at the be- 
imhabit* ginning of the third Punic war, amounted tofeven hundred 
**''• thoufand. The forces they could bring into the field, zA 

well as their power by Tea, when they exerted themfelves 
in an extraordinary manner, were very formidable. The 
army commanded by Hamilcar, in his expedition againft 
Gelon the tyrant of Syracufe, confided of three hundred 
' thonfand men ; and the fleet, cooperating with the land 

forces, was compofed of more than two thoufand (hips of 
war, and above three thoufand tranfports. Their riches 
were likewife immenfe, as may be colleded from* what Sci- 
pio carried off at the final deftrudion of the town, after it 
had been plundered, and fuppofed to be entirely exhaufted 
and confumed, namely, near a million and a half fterling. 
l^e extent ^^ ^^ ^^^ extent of the city, Livy informs us, that it was 
•fCar- twenty-three miles round. Pliny ** intimates, that Carthage, 
tkAge. when in the hands of the Phoenicians, was much larger 
than when it was a Roman colony; and Suidas affirms, that 
it was the greateft and moft powerful city in the world. 
The dominion of the fea, which it enjoyed for fix hundred 
years, almoft without interruption, together with the ge- 
nius of its citizens for commerce, aggrandized it in a moft 
prodigious manner. One particular edifice, hitherto omitted 
in our defcription of Carthage, it may not be improper to 
take notice of, namely, the temple of Apollo S ftanding 
near the Cothon, wherein was atlatuc of that deity of maf- 
five gold, and the in fide of the temple was covered with 
plates of the fame metal, weighing a thoufand talents. 
Frefint rs" Carthage was built upon three hills, fomewhat inferior in 
mains 9f elevation to thofe upon which Rome was eredied **. All the 
V^^ika remains of this once famous city are the area of a fpacious 
^'' room upon one of thofe hills, commanding the fouth-eaft 
fhore, with feveral fmaller ones at a little diftance from it; 
the common fewers, which time hath not in the leaft in- 
jured or impaired j and the cifterns, which have very little 
fubmitted to the general ruins of the city. The harbour is 
now flopped up, and, by the north-eaft winds, with the 
Mejerdah (A), moved amoft as far diftant from the fea as 

(A) This river, called bv the defcribed m the following fe6« 
ancients the Bagrada, will be tion. 

< Shaw*s Geographical Obfcrvations relating to the IGngdom of 
Tunis, p. i5o» 151. b Piia. Ubw v. cap. 4. ^ Appian. ubi 

Aipra. ' Shaw, ubi fupra. 

Utica, 



' The Hifiofy of the Carthaginians. 22 9 

ITtica, though it is ftill called El Mcrfa, or the Port, lying 
to the north and north-weft of the city, and forms, with 
the lake of Tunis, the peninfula on which Carthage ftood. 

Strabo * obferves, that the Carthaginians poffeflcd three Fafl tx^ 
hundred cities in Africa before the beginning of the third ^'nt^ftkg 
Punic war; a circumftance which may eafily be believed, ^f^^^^- 
if we conGder, that the dominions of this ftate in Africa, niont,^^** 
before that war, exrended from the weftern confines of Cy^ 
renaica ^ to the pillars of Hercules, or Streights of Gibral- 
tar (B), a traft of land near fifteen hundred miles in length. 
When it was in the zenith of its power, the greateft part 
of Spain, even as far as the Pyrenees, of Sicily, and all the 
iflands in the Mediterranean, to th« weft of this latter, Were 
fubje£l to it. How it came to make fuch large acquifitions, 
and by what fteps it grew fo formidable, as to difpute the 
empire o^ the world with Rome itfelf, will appear in the 
fequel of this hiftory. 

S E C T. 11. 

A Defcrtption of Africa Propria^ or the Territory of Car • 

thage. 

Ti4ELA and Ptolemy afiirm «, that Africa Propria con- Africa 

"* tained all the countries fituated between the river Propria* 
Ampfaga and the borders of Cy renaica, which Pliny tells . ^,. 
us were inhabited by twenty-fix different nations ^. But '''*^'''' 
this defcription gives it too great an extent, making it in- 
clude Numidia, and the Regio Syrtica, which are countries 
diftinftfrom the proper territory of Carthage. Its true limits 
feem to have been the river Tufca on the weft ^, or fide of 
Numidia ; the Mediterranean or African fea on the north ; 
the frontiers of the Garamante&and deferts of Libya Interior 
on the fouth ; and the Mediterranean, with the Lefier Syr- 

* Strab. lib. xvii, f Scylax Caryand. Vide &, Bochart. 

ubi fupra, ct feq. g Pomp. IVlcla, lib. i. cap. 7. Ptol. lib. iv. 

cap. 3 . h Plin. lib. v. cap. 4. ^ Cellar. Geogr. Ant* 

lib. iv. cap. 4. 

(B) The didance between the tions, it appears to have been 

Philaenorum Arae and Pillars of one thoufand four hundred and 

Hercules, according to Poly- twenty geographical miles, fixty 

bius(i), was fixteen thoufand of which make a degree of a 

Madia, or two thoufand miles., great circle. 
But from Dr. Shaw's oblerva- 

(I) Pol^b. Ub. iu. 

tJ5, 



£24 ^^ H0ory of the Carthaginians. 

Dmjun* ^^^9 ^^ ^ ^^- I^ ^^ divided into two provinces ^, tbe 
Regie Zeugitana, and Byzacium, with which the kingdom 
of Tunis ', under its divifion into the fummer and winter 
circuits, at prefent nearly corrdfponds. Byzacium, or at 
leaft the fea-coafl: of that province, feems to be the £fnporia 
of Livy and Folybius. 

Ptolemy has placed Carthage, and all the neighbouring 
iiities, four degrees too foutherly. If we admit the pofition 
of Africa Propria to have been nearly the fame with that of 
the kingdom of Tunis, it muft have taken up aknoft four 
4lcgrees of north latitude ; from 33 degrees 30 minutes 
north, to 37 degrees 12 minutes north, and of longitude 
above three degrees, fince S^belckah, the moft advanced city 
of the kingdom of Tunis to the wedward, is in eight degrees, 
and Clybea, the fartheft to the eaft, in 1 1 degrees 20 minute^i 
eail longitude from London. The fpot of ground on which 
Carthage flood is, according to the lateft obfervations, about 
1 o degrees 40 minutes eaft of London, and in north latitude 
36 degrees 40 minutes. 

Zeugitanh. Zeugitana, or the Regio Zeugitana, was feparated from 
Numidia by the river Tufca, and extended to Adrumetum, 
whkh Pliny makes the firft city of Byzacium. The fum- 
mer circuit of the kingdom of Tunis, including the fruitful 
country about KefF and Bai-jah, and feveral other diftrifts, 
-anfwers at prefent to this province, which was the Regie 
Carthaginienfium of Strabo, and the Africa Propria of PJiny 
and Solinus. We (hall not pretend to give a minute and par- 
.ticular defcription of all the cities it contained, as being in- 
-confiftent with our prefent defign ; but only touch upon 
fome of the principal, which have been the moft noticed by 
thofe writers who have treated of the Roman and Cartha- 
.ginian affairs. 

UtUa* ^^^ ^^^ place in Zeugitana worthy regard, (ince Car- 

thage has been already ^lefcribed, is Utica. In rank and 
-d^nity this city was next to Carthage, and even fuperiorto 
it in point of antiquity. Ariftotle fays it was built, accord- 
ing to the Phoenician hiftorians, two hundred and eighty- 
feven years before Carthage. Vellejus records ", that the 
Tyrians founded it about eighty years after the deftru£Uoa 
of Troy. Juftin intimates °, that the Tyrians were fettled 
there a confiderable time before Dido came into Africa ; 
• and that this fcttlemcnt commenced upon their firft arrival 
in that country: with thcfe two Ijrfl authors Mela and 

k Strab. lib. li. I Sbaw*8 Geographical Defcription of tlie 

Kingdom of Tunis, chap« 1, t. « Veil, Paterc ubi fupra. 

* Juft. lib. xviJi. 

Stc- 



Tbf fti/iary pf fhf (iirth^fnlm. %2i 

Stephafius g.grce ?. Tbe gujf^ on ^yhicb ]^k t¥^ 9^Y Wi 
P^rtb^ge ftood, was formed b]r t^e ty^q pfpfppDtories of 
Mercury ai>d Apollo, undjsr the lafl qf lyhijcl) y^^^f^ ^^f 
fe^fefi. ^ppi^p ' fays it was ilxty Aadia, or feyen m^ef 
aad a half to the ^eftiyard of Cartilage ; f^ut accordmg tq 
the f tiper^ry, thefe citie§ were twe^ty-feyep ^P^?^ P^^l^% 
diftant froip e^ch pf)ier % tTtica bad a large af)4 c^f^W?^ 
dix)^$ l:f^rbour, ^r^d was famous pn many ^pcpufits in the 
Roman hiflory, but on ^one nipre than the dearth of th<; 
younger Cato, ^y]lQ ^as frgip then/ce called Qato IJticenfi/;^ 
9r Catp of Utica. After Carthage yras fafed by i^q R07 
pan^^ Utijca was indulge4 with ^ gra^t of ^\\ the cpunjtfy ^ 
lying between Parthage and ^Ippo, and ^as fqr ^ conlS^ 
deraple tin>e the metropolis of Africa. Shaw fuppofes this 
place to have (Ipod where 3oo«$iatter does ^t pfe/ent ; the 
traces of buildings of great extent and m^gjai^ceiji^ ftij4 
yi/ible there, and the difiz^c^ from C^rtb^e^ perf^£i}y 
agreeing with that of t^e Itit^erary^ befides oxher circum-r 
&ai\ce$, apthoriiing ^uch a fupppfitipn* 

( The ne^ town in die neigbpourhppd of C^rth^e, but ui Tumt. 

a coa^^ry 4ire£^ion to tjie fprpxer, ^a^ Tunes or Tu^eta, .tbe 

'^unis of the mpderns. This jtawn vfzs ^ndpp^tedly pf ere^ 

antiquity, having been particularly ^^fcr^lied jby .^olybi,i?Pii 

Diqdorus, ^vy, and others ; and that k ytra^ of phpenician 

ori^^al,' the name itfe^f fyt^icntly implies ^ for ^e ]^i\d ia 

th^ p^X of the Lp,wer Egypt, almoft qpntigu^u^ fp the 

oQider^s .0^ A^^5^ P^etr^ea ^4 jE'hcepicia, ^ j^w^ C2ille4 

Tgnes, from yheixce the T^p^tic npme a^4 T^Jl^\^ n^out^ 

qf t^e Nile took their n^me. And it is well ^j^Yirtif tp^ 

ttis part of JEgypt ' w^s pofleffed by the Pfeoen/f^a;i§;^ cifi^ci? 

ia the tim^e of Joihua, or much earlier ^ and that ^he ^hff^-; 

i^ician^ afterwards fettled in Africa Propria* I^i^midia, and ' 

l^a^urit^ni^. In conSrmation of >yhich ppinipn, we ^fin4 fi 

river in Numidia % not far from tl^e Ajnpfaga, called T^- 

Qa^^ fxom whence ys^e xi^y inJEer, f^ice nothing ji^^pre \ . 

<;pinm9n in the Oriental langiustges th^ fi permtU^tipn of 

yoweis, that Tunes ^s a Phoenician same, a,p4 th^t t^e ,city 

itieliF isjof Phoenician extraclipn. T^zt it was ^ t^wp qf 

fome confequence in very early ages, is ^vjident from JLivy r*^. 

^94Qr9S, ^nd Strabo, ]iy^o tell us, that .there w^ 9 not^ 

• Stq)h. de Urb. & Mel»> ^f p. 7- p Appisn. ip Ljbvc. 

^ Au^. Jtin. int. Carth. &Utic. ' D. Auguft. in Expofir. 

Bpift. ad 3 Rom. fob. Init. Procop. deBetl. Vahd. lib. Ti.'cap/ib,' 
£uf.Chron. lib. i. p. ii. Gemar. Hierofol. ad Tit. Sbebith. cap. 6. 
Npnoyi in DicMnyQw:. Ub. xiii. Bp. Cumbedand's Tjce^tife^n 5%n. 
chpnintjb^^s Phoen. Hift, • Cellar. Q^^. Ant. p. 9 13, t ^iv. 
Biod. & Strab. ubi fupra & alibi. 

yoh. XV, Q^ Uth* 



<2S 



^e Kifiory of the Carthaginians. 



l/taxula* 



bath, and a famous quarry^ not fiar from it ; as alfo that it 
was fortified both by nature and art, and furrounded with 
a wall. It was feated near the mouth of the river Catada, 
fifteen Roman piiles eaft of Carthage. The city is more 
famous now than it was even amongft the ancients, being 
the capital of a powerful kingdom. The greateft part of it 
is fituated upon a rifing ground, along the weftcrn banks of 
the lake, which bears the fame name ", and in a full prof- 
J5efl: (as the ancients have dcfcribcdit) of the Guletta, Car- 
thage, and the ifland Zowa-moore. Tunis fome time paft 
was remarkable for its corfairs, but of late the inhabitants 
have applied themfelves wholly to trade, and are now be- 
come the moft civilized and polite people in Barbary. 
■ Maxula, or according to Ptolemy, Mazula ^, was an an- 
cient^ town of the ftate of Carthage, and, if Pliny may be 
Credited *, pretty near that city, in a direSion contrary to 
the promontory of -Apollo and Utica. This town was pro- 
bably built by the Phoenicians. It ftood on the eaftern fide 
of the Catada, now the Miliana; and if Mo-raifaK, two 
leagues to the ' north-eaft of Solyman, be, according to 
Shaw's conjefture, the Maxula, or Mazula, of the ancients, 
Maxula was about eight leagues, or twenty-four Englifli 
miles, fouth-eaft of Tunes. 

' Carpis, a city of this diftriO, was placed by Ptolemy one 
third xA a degree more northerly than Carthage. Pliny 
calls it Carpi. Shaw "f fuppofes the fpot which this town 
occupied, to be that which Gtirbos, or Hammam Gurbos, 
lit prefent ftands upon ; and that the hot-bath near it is the 
Aqyse Calidas of Livy. Though the pofition Ptolemy af- 
figns his Carpis does not agree with that of the modern 
Gurbos, this laft lying above a degree more foutheriy than 
Carthage, yet we doubt not but the modern traveller is in 
the right, this geographer being very inaccurate in his de- 
termination of the latitudes of places. 

Mifna, or Nifua, a town mentioned by Pliny and Pto- 
lemy, ftood between Carpis and Clypea. The ruins of this 
place are ftill to be feen at the fanftuary of Seedy Doud, 
in the kingdom of Tunis-, five leagues to the E. N. E. of 
the promontory of Hercules. 
Jfuilaria. The next place that occurs is the Aquilaria of Caefar*, 
where Curio iapded his troops from Sicily. Caefar tells us, 
it was a very cbnvenient ftation in the fummer feafon, and. 
in the neighbourhood of two promontories. Of thqfe, in 

tt Shaw ubi fupra, p. 155. ^ Ptol, Geog. lib. iv. x Plin. 

lib. v. cap. 4» ' Sbawubi fupra, p. 57. < Ccef. lib. ii. 

Bell Civ. cap. 23. 

all 



Carfii. 



Mifiui. 



Tbe Biftoty of the Carthaginians. 227 

all probability, that of Mercury (called by the Moors the 
Raf-adder, and by the Frankl. Cape Bon) was one j fince 
this is about a league to the northward of Lowah-reahf 
fuppofed to be the ancient Aquilaria. Many fragments * of 
antiquities are flilt' extant in this place^ but amongft them 
nothing remarkable. 

Clypca ** was fituated upon the fmall promontory Taphl- Cfypf4» 
tis, five leagues fouth-eaft of the promontory of Mercury, 
"which being in the figure of a ihield or hemifphere, gave 
life to the name. It is called by Livy, Mela, and Pliny, 
Clupea ; by Polybius, Appian, and Agathemerus, Afpis ; 
but by Soiinus, and the Itinerary, Clypea. A mile diftant 
from the ground where the old city ftood, is a colle£):ion of 
huts or cottages, called by the inhabitants Clybea. Ptolemy 
is guilty of a great miftake, when he makes Afpis and 
Clypea two different cities. i. 

Curubts, Curobis, or Curabis, was a town, according to Curubitm' 
the Itinerary, thirty-two Roman milesf diftant from the for- 
mer ; but according to the more accurate obfervations of 
the moderns, feven leagues^ or twenty-one miles, fouth- 
weft-and-by-weft of it. It is ftyled by Pliny the free city 
Curubi^, and appears to have been a confiderablc place in 
former times, though the ruins of a large aquedufl:, and of 
the cifterns which received the water, are the only antiqui* 
ties it can boaft of at prefent, if the modern Gurba anfwers 
to it, as both the name and fituation fufficicntly intimate. 

Cahthele, a Phoenician city, not far from Curubis, ac- CantkeU^ 
cording to Hecat^us *. This town received its appellation 
from the Pagan deity Saturn j fince, according to Sancho- 
niatho * and Damafcius, the word el in the Phoenician 
tongue had a particular relation to that deity. In confir- 
mation of which it is obferved by Ponticus, in his life of 
St. Cyprian, that there was a town in that place called by 
the Romans Ficus &aturniy the Jlreet of town of Saturn* 
This was not a place of any confideration, at leaft fo low 
as the claffic times, fo that we take notice of it here purely 
on account of its antiquity. 

Neapolis, a famous and ancient emporyof the Carthagi* KeapQUs, 
nians, wasfeatedin the fouth-eaft part of Zeugitana, five 
leagues to the north-eaft of Curubis. Thucydides ** fays, 
Aat the pafiage from hence to Sicily was very fhort, as bc- 
ing performed in two days and a night. Scylax places it not 
far from the leffer Syrtis, and about a day and a half's jour- - 

*Shaw, ubi fup. p. 158. ^ Strab. lib. xvii. p. 573. c He- 

catsus Perieget. apud Stepb. de Urb. ^ Sancbionatho apud £u- 

Kb. in Praep. Evang. lib. t. cap. 10. & Damafcius apud Fhocium ia 
«»bliothec. a4». « Thucyd. lib. vii, • 



(28 the M^my of the CarthaginUtns.- 

ntj from the promontory of Mercury. Nabal, a thriving and 
induftfious.modern town, .ft|{^Ua furlong to the weft ward 
of the ancient Neapolis» which appears to have been a large 
city. Plmy ftyles this place, aa well as Curutisi a free city. 
Here cs a great number of infcriptions upon (tones of fix 
feet in length, and three in breadth ; but they are either fp 
unfoi'tUftately defaced, or fo filled with rubbifh and mortar, 
that it is a difficult thing to copy them. Strabo and Hirtius 
agree with Scylax in fixing it hear the promontory, of Mer* 
i:ury. Nabal:^ ftiands upon ttie Gulph of Hamam-et in north 
lat. 36 degrees 8 minutes, two leagues from a little opulent 
town of the fame name. 

Kifhtris. To thefe may be added NTepheris, a fortrefs to the eaft ward 
.of Carthage. It was a place of confequence, being built 
upon a rocky and ftrongly fenced by nature on all (ides. At 
drubal, with his whole army, Was ctit^ofF near it by Scipic^ 
who, after a iiegeof twenty-t'wo days, reduced the town; 
and this redtt£i^ greatly contributed to the conqueft of 
Carthage. 

Hlfpo. The only city remaining ia this province that merits any 

attention is Hippo, towards the north-weft borders of it, a 
fort of frontier»town on the fid« of Numidia. From the na- 
vigable ledce flipponitis, on which it was built, and wfaicfa 
fervcd it as a natural fortification, it was denominated Hippo 
Diarrhytus, and Hippo Zarytus; though, from the pro- 
montory near it, the ancients fometimes gave it the dcnc^ 
mination of Acra^ Hippuacra, and Hippagreta. Scylax calls 
it fimply Hippo, notwichftanding it generally went by the 
names above mentioned in the time of Polybius, Diodorus, 
Pliny, and Appian ; and this in order to diftinguifti it from 
Hippo Regius in Numidia. Appian s tells us, that it wa^ 
a great city, had a port, a citadel^ and repofitories for naval 
ftores. The modem name is Btzerta, which is a corruption 
of the Hippo Zarytus of the ancients. It is pleafantly fitu<- 
atid upon a oanal, eight miles to the fouth^and-hy-^weft of 
eape filanco, betwixt an extew five lake and the £ea. It is 
at prefent about a mile in circuit, defended by feveral cafr 
ties and batteries, the prittoipal of which are towards the 
lea. The origin of it was Phoenician, as has been fuUf 
proved by Bochart^, whod0rivestlie name Hippo from the 
' Syrsac or Phcttsician Ubb^ <&t Ufpo^ agulph% which per** 
fe£kly anfwers to the fituatioa of t^he place. Thifi^^iph is 
formed by the Promomoriirm Camdidum and Promontorium 
Apollinis of the ancientsj the Kas-el-abeadh and Ras Zibeeb 
of the prefent Tunifeens. - .,, 

• f Shaw Bbl fti^. « Appiafi, in Libyc* * Bochart de C«I. 

Phoen* lib. i. cap. 24, ^ - 

. As 



The Hjftory of the Carthaginrans^ 

As for the inland towns of Zeugitana, Ulizibirr9'Medtc-«- 
cara, Tucma, Cerbica, Safura, Cilma, Vepilliumy Vinay 
Valli, Cigifa, Mufti, Membrefla, Cilio, and others equally 
obfcure, enumerated by Ptolemy, the Itinerary, and Peu- 
tingcr's table ; they were for the moft part, if not entirely, 
modem in comparifon'of the Carthaginian times, and never 
confiderable in any other. We fhail therefore conclade our 
defcription of this province with obferving, that there feem 
to be fome traces of Zeugis or Zeugitana in the prefent 
name of the city of Zowan or Zagwan, a fmall flouriihing 
town built upon the north-eaft extremity of a confpicuous 
mountain of the fame name, in the fummer circuit of the 
kingdom of Tunis. This conjedlure will appear extremely 
probable from what has been advanced by Solinus, com* 
pared with the obfervations of the learned traveller^ fo 6ften 
cited. The Zygantes of Herodotus feem likewife to have 
been placed in the neighbourhood of Zagwan, which is an 
additional argument in fupport of this notion. 

Byzacium, according to Pliny *^, was inhabited by the Li- Bjsutehm: 
byphoenicians, that is, by a mixture of Aborigines, or na- 
tive Africans,' and Carthaginians. . The fame author aflerts, 
it was about two hundred and fifty Roman miles in circum- 
ference, and of fuch great fertility, that the earth made a re- 
turn of a hundred fold. The limits of this province feem 
imi)offiblc to be precifely defined, becaufe the ancients have 
pafled over the interior part of it, bordering upon Libya, in 
a very flight manner, and greatly miftaken the courfe, mag- 
nitude, and fource of the river Triton. In general, how- 
ever, it may be proper to renryark, that Byzacium is fup- 
pofed not to have difftred much in extent and fituation 
from the prefent winter circuit of the Tunifeens. We have 
neither room nor opportunity to be very particular in our 
account of the towns it formerly contained, and therefore 
hope rtiat a brief defcription of fome of the principal of them 
willfuffice. 

Adfumetum, or Hadrumetum, the capital of Byzacium, Adrumtm 
vas a city of great antiquity, and of confiderable note in turn. 
the ancient world. It had a variety of names^ being called , 
byStrabo and Stephanus, Adryme or Adrume, as alfo A- 
drymetus ; by Plutarch and Ptolemy, Adrumetus or Adru- 
niettus; byAppian, Adrymettus ; and by Cafar, Hirtius, 
^dPKny, Adrumetum ; by Mela, Hadrumetum, or, accord- 
ing to Voffius, Hadrumentum; and laftly, in Peutinger*s 
table, we find it named Hadrito. The city was large and 
fpaciousybttilt upon an hemifpherical promontory, like Cly* 

1 Shaw ubl fup.^p. 3. ^ Piifit ubi fttp» 

0^3 P^^a* 



tS^ 



^Hfpina. 



leptls 

Minor* 



Agar, 



^bi Hifiofy of the Carthaginians. 

pea, at the diftance of two leagues to the fouth*eaft of tlie 
'morafsy the boundary, as hath been fuppofed, betwixt the 
Zeugitana and this province- According to the Itinerary^ 
it was eightt?en Roman miles from Leptis Minor, though 
Peutinger's table makes the diftance greater. Adjacent to 
the city was a Cothon, being either a port or little ifland, 
in imitation of that of Carthage. The city, according to 
the judgment that can be formed from the prefent fituation, 
was fomething more than a mile in circuit \ and from the 
remaining ruins', feems rather to have been a place of im- 
portance than extent. That it was founded by the Phoeni- 
cians is evident from Sallufl" and others ; as likewife from 
the name itfelf, which Bochart, with a great appearance of 
truth, derives from two Syriac or Phoenician words, im- 
porting«the land or country returning an hundred-fold, i. e. 
of corn or grain. It is at prefent h\\t a barren and uncul- 
tivated tra^i, being partly of a dry fandy nature, and partly 
incommoded with moraffcs. 

Rufpina ftood betwixt Adrumetum and Leptis Minor^ 
where Caefar encamped in his wars with Scipio ". The vil- 
lage of Sahaleel) above fix miles from Herkla, and full a 
mile from the fea, has the faireft preteniions to Rufpina ; 
fince, according to Hirtius% the port of Rufpina was not 
at a much greater diftance from the town. 

Leptis Minor, one of Pliny's free cities, eighteen Roman 
miles from Adrumetum, was of Phcenician extrafiion. It 
had the epithet Minor commonly annexed to it, in order to 
diftinguifh it from Leptis Major, a city of the Regip Syrtica, 
which was built either by the Sidonians, as Salluft inti- 
mates P, or the Tyrians, according to Pliny *». Strabo and 
• Stephanus fay, that Lepethis, a city of Cyprus, was famous 
for its commodious ftation, and the fame is faid of Leptis 
Minor by Lucan. The city paid every day a talent to the 
Carthaginians by way of tribute ; and all authors agree, that 
the circumjacent country was exceedingly fruitful. The place 
is at prefent called Leinpta ; but there is nothing left be- 
sides a fmall part of the caftle, with a low flielf of rocks, 
that probably made the northern mound of the Cothon. 

Agar, a town defcribed by Hirtius, was a few miles to 
the weftward of Leptis. This place had a rocky fituation, 
and there is now near the foot it occupied a great quantity 
of ftones and ruins. The village, at prefent taking up the 
fpot of ground on which Agar flood, is palled by the Arabs^ 
Boo*Hadjar, i. e. the father of ajione. 

Shaw ubi fiip. *» Salluft. in Jugurtb. n Shaw ubifup. 

p. 190. ^ Hirt. Bell. Afric. fee. 9. p Salluft. io Jugurtb. 

cap. 22, & 80. % Piin. lib. y. cap. 19. 

ThapfiUi 



The Hijior^ of the CarihagmianSk %^ i. 

Thapfus, a maritime town of this province, was feated, *thapfus. 
according to Dio ', upon a fort of ifthmus, betwixt the fca 
and a lake. Peutinger's table makes it eight miles diilant 
from Leptis to the fouth. The inhabitants ,of Thapfus were 
famous for their fidelity to Scipio in his wars with Caefar. 
Demafs, the ancient Thapfus, is fituated upon a low neck 
of land, three miles to the eaft-by-lbuth, of To-Bulba, 
within half a league of which is the lake mentioned by Hir- 
tius. Here is ftill remaining, in defiance .of time and the 
fea, a great part of the Cothon built in frames \ the compo- 
(ition of fipall pebbles and mortar, which are fo well ce- 
mented together, that a folid rock could not be more hard 
and durable. The walls of Tlemfan very much refemble 
the remaining part orthis. Cothon. 

AchoUa, or Acilla, feems to have been called by Applari*, AcholUu 
Xholla. If the fite Ptolemy afligns this city be allowed, 
Elalia, fix miles to the northward of She-ah, the ancient 
Rufpae, upon the borders of a fertile plain, undoubtedly an- ' 
fwers to it. 

Turris Hannibalis ^,. the Tower of Hannibal, was a fort, ^^ris 
tower, or country-feat, belonging to Hannibal, betwixt '^^^^^^^^ 
Thapfus and AcHla, according to Livy. To.this place Han- 
nibal fled from Carthage for fear of the Romans ; and im- 
mediately upon his arrival, e|;ibarking in a vcflel provided 
for that purpofe, pafled over to the ifland Cercina. Either 
El-Medea, five miles to the fouth of Demafs, or Saledlo ", 
five miles to the fouth-by-weft of El-Medea, in all probabi- 
lity, occupies the fpace on which this fort, tower, or coun- 
try-feat was erefted. 

Thena, orThenae, a town on the coaft of the LeflerSyr- Hieutu 
tis, mentioned by Strabo ^, is known at this time among the 
Tunifeens by the name Thainee. It was built upon a low 
and rocky piece of ground, near two miles in circuit. The 
adjacent country is dry and barren, without either fountain* 
or rivulet. 

Betwixt Thenae and the mouth of the Triton, or the place Mac^^ 
where it difchargcs itfelf into the fea, Ptolemy places his ^«««t 
Macodama, with which perhaps Maba-refs, four leagues to 
the weft of Thainee, correfponds. It is a village remark- 
able for nothing but feveral cifterns, with large areas to re- 
ceive the rain-water. 

Uzlta, a town near Tifdrus and Leptis Minor, has been VziUi^ 
mentioned by Hiitius, Ptolemy, and Dio. 

' pio, lib. xliii. p. 245. ' Appian. in Libyc. t Liv. lib. 

xxxiii. Juft. lib. xxxi. " Shaw, ubi fup. p. igz, ^Strat)^ 



iib'X^ii.p. 57», 57^. 



0^4 Thala, 



^32 ^Ti&f Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 

^hala. thala, a city of great ciichi, according to Salluft*, was 

furronndcd by mountains atid dfeferts, thoiigh there were 

fomc fountain^ without the city. Alt which particular^ 

agree with the fiiuatidti of the modern Fcrre-atiah, in tKe 

foutti-wfeft pari of this provinte. 

Caffi* TWfelvb leagues to the S. E. by E. oJF this place is Gafza, 

the Capfa of ttie ancients, itid one of the caftles of Jugur- 

tha^. ti is built upon a riChg ground, incloted, almoft iii 

every dircftion, with mountains j and hath the fame fitua- 

tion ai Ferrc-anah, with this difference, that the landfcape» 

hct*e is mdrc gay and vtrcJant by the profp^ft of the palm, 

61ive, J)iftachio, and other fruit-trees. In the eafterii 

languages the >^ord fignifies Jlreightly environed^ and fo the 

place is on every fide by folitiides and deferts ; which is a 

proof that Ik was originally I*hcenician *. There feeih to 

nave be6n tWo thore cities of this name, the one in JNumi- 

ilia, t.he othek* in Libya Interior. 

Suffetula, Turfeo, Sarfbra, Tifdta or Tifd'rUs, Caraga, 
Orbita, and other obfcure towns of Byzacium, ot" which 
t^e kiiiow only the bare tiime^, deferVe not the Icaft atten- 
tion : iiire Ihall, therefore, conclude our geographical re- 
inarks upon this country with a concife defcription of its 
,fnoft celebrated lakes, rivers, and other principal curiofi- 
iies, and a brief enumerdtio# of the African nations, by 
whom in the remoteft times it \^as pofleiBed. 
taktT. Tbe chief lakes of this region remarked by the ancient* 

(belides the lake Hipponitis. abdve-mentioneci, and this P^- 
\\xt Sifara joined to it, of ho great magnitude) were the iPa- 
lus Tritorjis or Tritonitis, the Pal us Pallas, and the PalU^ 
Libya; all which, according to Ptolemy, had a communi- 
cation by means of the river Triton, which ran through 
thiem into the fea. But in this particular that geographer 
was dc'ceiv'ed. The fource of the Triton is nearer the fei 
than thcfe lakes, ^^hich are now known to be different parts 
or branches of the fame lake, whofe modern naihe is, th^ 
Shlbkah El Lowdeah », or lake rf marks, fo called from a 
ftumber of Itrunks of palm-trees, placed at proper diftances, 
to dir'eft th'e caravans in their paflage over it. This lake cX- 
fends near twenty kagues from eaft to weft, and is infer- 
fperifed with feVeral dry ipots, which appear like iffahds. 
To the eaftward, in the fame meridian with iTelenieen, 
, thete IS one, which, though uninhabited, is very large, and 
well flocked with dite-trieefe. This feems to be the Cterfo* 

. « Sifillu^. in Jugurth, , y idem, « Vid, Bophart ubi fup* 

« Cellar, in Geog. Aht. p. S75, 913. « Shaw ubi fup. p. 211^ 

aia. 

ncftts 



ncfus bf t)i6dorUsS aiid the Phld of Herodotus * i and t\i6 
date- trees in it, ^cc'ordittg to a tradition of the Afabs, l^tdtig 
originally from the (tones of thofe dates which the Egypfiati^ 
Brought with them for provifions, many ages fince, when 
they inVaded this part of Africa, ^ylax makes the lake to 
hate been in his time about a thoufand ftadia in circum^ 
ference, which agrees tolerably w^ll with the beft mo- 
dern tdefcfiptic^n we fihd given of it. . 

The moft famous river bf Africa Propria was the Bagra-» Rivers. 

di**, tiagadfas, or Bragada, for it went by all thofe names* 

On the banks of this river, Regulus, in the fiirft Punifc War, 

by means of his battering engines, killed a ferpent^of a 

monftrous Gze. Ptolemy *^ derives the Bagrada from mount TAe Ba» 

Mampfarus, wiicre he fixes its fource, making it bend its gra^^a^ 

courfe almoft dircdlly from north to fouth ; and in this he 

is followed by the late geographers. But this is a miftake ^^ 

ita ftweam flowing in a direftion almoft from weft to eaft* 

At prefdnt it is called the Me-jerdah, whofe firft and moft 

diftapt branches are the Hameefe and Myiki-^nah, in thts 

diftriA of the Hen-neiflia; which, with the concurrent 

ftireams oF the Wed el Boule, Scilliana, and forne other u^ 

vulets 6{ the Frig-eah, render it as lirgc as the Ifis dnd 

Cherwell united, fey running thrOUgh a rich and fertile 

Country 9 it becomes of the fame complexion with the Nile, 

and appears to have no lefs the property of making en- 

ei^achmetlts upon the fea. Utica ftood upon the weftern 

bank of the Bagrada^ and Carthage on ^he other fide^ but 

at fohie diftance from it. 

Thfe Gatada of Ptolemy, now the Miliana, is remarkable TAeCatU" 
for h6thing but having Tunis feated upon the mouth of it } da. 
nor the Triton, now the Gabbs, but on account of the lake 
of the fame nartfie already defcribed. However, it may not 
be liinproper to obfetVe, th^t it has its fource ^ only about 
three or four leagues to the S. S. W. of Gabbs, and becomes 
at once a confiderable ftream, near as big as the CheiweH. * 

Aniong the principal curiofities of this country are to be Curiofitieu * 
ranked tl^ Hammam Leef, a hot bath, very much reforted 
to by the^'citizens of Tunis; the hot bath, with fome ruins, 
it \hc creek of Gurbos, the Aquae Calidse of Livy % the fait 
hteneir To-bulba^ the Stagnum Salinarum of Hirtius; 
the Jibbel Had-dcfFa, an entire mountain of fait, fituated 
faeaf Wit baftertt extremity of the Lake of Marks, whofe " 

^ Diodor^ Sic. lib. lii. p. 130. ^ « Herodot. lib. iv. ti Strab. 

lib. xvik Appian. lib. ii. Bell. Civil, p. 74S. Siliu's Italicus, Lut- 
^an^ &C. e Cell. lib. vi' cap. 3. Plin. Hift. Nat. lib. viii. cap. 14. 
I-iv.Epit.xviii. Val. Max. P. 1, \ 19- ^ Ptol.Gcog-tib. iv. 

t ^w ubi fup. p. 147. ^ Idemi p* i97« 

fait 



234 ^^ Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 

fait is as hard and folid as ftone, and of a reddifli or purple 
colour ; and the lead-ores, at Jibbel Rif-fafs, near Hammam 
Leef, which are very rich (C.) 

. The 



(C) We (hall beg leafe in 
this note jufl to mention the 
principal iflands on the coaft of 
Africa Propria, taken notice of 
by the ancients, which are the 
following : 

I. Coflyra or Cofyrus, a 
fmall idand in the African Tea, 
which feme authors refer to 
Sicily ; but Strabo makes it 
part of the proper territor^j of 
Carthage. According to Pto- 
lemyj it had a city of the 
fame name, which, by reafon 
of its vicinity to Carthage, was 
doubtlefs a place of fome re- 
pute. Scylax tells us it was a 
day's fail only from the pro- 
montory Lilyb^eum in Sicily ; 
and Strabo places it in the 
middle of the African fca, at an 
(equal diflance from Lilybaeum 
and Clypea, a city of Africa 
propria. From fome antique 
coins, exhibited by Paruta and 
Lucas Holdenius, it appears, 
that Coflyra was the name moft 
frequently ufed. According to 
Strabo, this iiland was an hun- 
dred and fifty fiadia in circum- 
ference (i). 

2> The TarichisB of Strabo 
ivere certain fmall iflands very 
near the coaft of Africa Pro- 
pria, aim oft oppoflte to Leptis 
Minor. They are at prelent 
called the Jowries, and lie op- 
pofite Lcmpta and Tobulba. 
Cxfar regarded them as polls of 



fome importance, which is all 
that we have at prefenc to (ay 
of them (2). 

3. Lopadufa, oppoJUte ' to 
Thapfus above mentioned, wa$ 
flx miles long, according to 
Pliny. The fame author affirms 
it to have been fifty miles di- 
ftant from Cercina and Cercini- 
tis, two fmall iflands belonging 
to the Regio Syrtica (3). 

4. jEthufa or iEgufa, an- 
other little ifland mentioned by 
Pliny and Ptolemy, fitjiated 
to the weftward of the for- 
mer (4)'. 

5. The Larunefiae, two fmall 
iflands, according to the Pala- 
tine MS. of Ptolemy, lay a- 
bove Rufpina (5). 

6. The Jnfula IJracontia of 
Ptolemy were to the north of 
Hippo biarrhytus. Two little 
flat contiguous iflands called the 
Cant, not far from cape Blan-. 
CO, feem at this day to bid fair 
for the fame fltuation that Pto- 
lemy afligns for his Infula Dm- 
contia (6). 

7. Galata, a little ifland a- 
bove Tabraca, vyas diftant thre^ 
hundred fladia from the conti- 
nent of Africa (7). 

8. i^giniurus was a fmall 
ifland in the gulph of Car- 
thage, about thirty miles from 
that capital. Pliny aflTures us, 
that there were two rocks near 
this ifland called the Arse jEgif 



(1) Ptol. Ub. iv. cap. 3. ScyU Caryand. Sirab. lib. vi. Parut. 
apud Thefaur. Ant- & Hill. Sic. vol. viii. Luc. Holflen in Not. ad 
Stepb. Byzant. (2) Strab. lib. xvii. Hirt. de Bel). Afric. §. 10. 

(3) Strab. lib. xvii. Plin. lib. v. cap. 7. (4) Idemt lib. lii. 

cap. 8. Ptol. lib. iv. cap. 3. (5} Cellar. Geogr. Ant. lib. iv« 

cap. 4. (6) Ptoi. ubi fup. (7} Cellar, ex Itinerario 

Maritimoj ubi fup. 

|»ur| 



^heHlfiory of the Cartht^ghtam. 2^j 

The moft ancient inhabitants of this country were^ the Ancient in* 
Aufes, fituated to the weft of the river Triton, whofe ca- habitants. 
pital city was doubtlefs Auza or Auzate, faid by Menander 
EpheHus to be built by Eth-baal or Ithobal, king of Tyre; 
the Maxyes, a Libyan nation ; the Machlye^, another Li- 
byan nation, near the lake Trjtonis 5 the Zaueces; and the 
Zygantes, who took a particular delight in bees, and mak- 
ing of honey. Thefe were, probably, a mixture of old 
Libyans and Phoenicians, and therefore, in feveral particu- 
lars, refembled both thofe nations. 



% 



S E q T. IIL 

^he Antiquityy Government^ Laws, Religiofiy Language, 
,Ct{ftomSi Art Si Learning , andTrade^ of the Cartha- 
ginians* " 

THE Carthaginians were the defcendants of the old Ca- TheCar.^ 
naanites, and therefore could trace up their antiquity ^h^tniant 
as high as Canaan, the fon of Ham, the acknowleged pro- ^'B*"^ 
genitor of that people. All the Greek and Roman ^ writers, ^r PAani^ 
who mention any of their affairs, are clear in this point, cians. 
That they were of the fame opinion, is evident from a tra- 
dition prevailing amongft their pofterity fo late as St. A\t- 
ftin's * days ; from the authority of Servius and Procopius ™; 
and from the ftrong attachment they always (hewed to the 
cuftoms and manners of that nation, from which thefe 
authors deduce them \ 

^ Herodot. lib. iv. ^ Philiftus Syracufanus apud Eiifebium 

in Chron. ad Ann* 804. Appian. in Lihyc. Tub Init. Veil. Paterct 
Hift. Rom. Juftin. lib. xviii. &c. i Auguft.in Expofit. Epift, 

ad Rom. Tub init. ^ Servius in ^n. i. v. 37. & ^n. iv. v. 75. 

Procop. de Bell. Vandal, lib. ii. cap. 10. n Herodot. Polyb. 

Liv. Diodor. Sic. Q^^Curt. Jultin. Tcrtul. Minut. Fel. &c. paffim. 

niuri or ^giraori, which, ac- eluded a treaty, and made them 

cording to Servius, were the the limits or their rerpe6live 

remains of an iiland, fome ages dominions. The modern Zowa- 

before his time abforpt by the moor, between cape Zibeeb and 

fea. This author likewife in- cape Bon or Rafaddar, the 

forms us, that they were called Zimbra of our fea charts, is 

Ane, becaufe on them the Ro- undoubtedly the ^gimurus of 

mans and Carthaginians con« the ancients (8). 

(8) Strab* lib. xxii. p. 573* Liv. lib. xxx. cap. 9^. Plin. lib. V. 
fap. 7. Virg. ^n. x. v. loS. Serv. in Loc. Steph. Byzant. &c. 

It 



43<S 






of giiverU' 
mentai 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians 

It is to be naturally fuppofed, that fomc of theft mixed 
with the Aborigined> or native Africans^ whom they found 
upon their arrival, and w^th them, or at leaft axonfiderabie 
body of them, formed one people. For this reafon it is, that 
the inhabitants of Byzacium, efpecially of the maritime 

£art_s of it, were fometimes called, by the Greeks and 
Lomans, Libyphoenicians, as confiding of both nations. 
Some ® authors have imagined, that the Libyphoenicians, 
or Libophoenicians, were a diftin^l nation both from the 
Libyans and Carthaginians, and inhabited a different tra£^« 
It is certain the .true or Afiatic Phoenicians and Syrians, 
bordering upon their refpe£tive frontiers, were called Syrp- 
phoenicians, upon account of their intermixing one with 
another, and by way of contradiftinftion from the people 
inhabiting the oppofite parts of thofe two regions, who were 
known by their proper names, Syrians and Phoenicians. 
LivyP faysof the Carthaginians, ** Miftum Punicum Afris 
genus;" and Diodorus ^ fpeaks of them to the fame effefl:. 

The firft government fettled at Carthage ' was probably 
monarchical \ but this feems to be of flwJrt continuance, 
expiring with Dido, or rather in her life-time, when it was 
changed into a republic. Authors differ as tD the particu- 
lar form of this republic. Ariilotle tdlls us, that it was 
partly ariftocratical % and partly political, that is, demo- 
cratical(D). According to Polybiu>% monarchy, arifto- 

cracy, 

^ Vide Bochart. Chan. lib. i. cap. ft5.. P Liv. lib. zxxi« 

^ Diodor. Sic. lib. xx. ' Ubbo Emmiiis de Stat. & Rep. Carthag. 
fub init. Chrift Hendreich. in Carthag. lib. ii. fe^. i.cap. 15, p. 307. 
" Arid. d« Rep. lib. ii. cap. 1 1. Ubbo Emm. ubi fupra. ( Polyb. 

lib. vi. 



(D) tloXtrsidt (polity or toU- 
ty)f taken in a general lenfe 
( ij, fignified, dccor^ing to Ari- 

' ' flotle, any form of government, 
where the laws had their due 
force and efficacy. In a more 

« confined fenfe it was, among 
the ancient Greeks before Ari- 
fiotle's time, frequently fyno- 
nymous to ^nfMx^ATiat fJemo' 
tracyjy as may be proved 
from .£fchines, and others. 
But when Ariilotle comes ro 
diflinguifh more minutely (2), 
he tells us, that there were two 

(1} Ariilot. de Rep. lib. iv. 



mixed forms of govemment, 
each of which was a compofi- 
tion of oligarchy and demo- 
cracy. That which participated 
moil of oligarchy, was called 
ariftocracy ; but that which in- 
clined moil to democracy^, went 
by the name of polity or pcdicy* 
TOth of thefe, in feme refpedb, 
prevailed in the ftate of Car* 
thage, as we fhall fee hereafter, 
when Tve come to confider the 
defeats of it ; for whith recfon 
Ariftotle tells us, it was com- 
pofed of both. In fhort, polity 



(«) ^fchin. in Cte^ph. 



or 



Th Hiflory of the Carthaginians. ' ,437 

cracy^ and deoypcracy^ all centered in it. And lafily, Ifo- 
crates " makes the civil government to have been oli- 
garchical^ and the military monarchical. In forming it^ 
the Carthaginians undoubtedly bgrrovi^ed many things frooi 
their anceftors the TyrianSi who, for feveral ages, made a 
£reat figure in tt^e world, and were in high e(umation| on 
account of their wifdom, riches, and pQwer. Ariftotle in- 
tims^tes, that the Cretan, Lacedaemonian, and Carthaginian 
republics were the mod perfe£t and heft modeled of any in 
the world; and that tnefe in many particulars agreed ; / . 

though, in feveral refpeCls, he gives the preference to the 
Carthaginian. The confummate wifdom of thofe maxims 
and infti$utions, upon which this laft was formed, appeared 
from hence, that notwith (landing the great authority the 
people bore in Carthage, there had been no inftance, from 
the foundation of the city to his time^ of any popular com- 
motions capable of difturbing the public tranquility^ nor 
of ^ny tyrant, who had been able, at the cxpence of liberty, 
to introduce oppreSion. This was a plain proof, that the 
three principal powers, of which the conffitutibn of Car- 
thage was compofed, were of fuch a nature, as to counter- 
poife one another, and, by their mutual harmony, preferve 
and promote the public felicity. Thefe were the fufFetes, 
the lenate, and the people, who, whilft they kept within 
their, proper bounds, were a check upon one another, and 
jointly concurred to render their republic, of all others, the 
moft fiourifhing. But when by an unaccountable flu^ua-, 
tion of power, the people got the afcendant over the fe- 
nate, prudence was bani^ed their councils, nothing but ca- 
bals and faflions took place, and of confequence, uich pre- 
cipitate fteps were taken, as firft rendered this formidable 
ftate weak and contemptible, and foon after completed its 
deftru^ion. 

The fufFetcs^ were two in number, of equal power and tjj/ /j^/: 
d'^nity, and the chief magillrates of Carthage. They an- fitgu 
fwered to the two kings of Laced^emon, iis well as to the 
Roman confuls ; for which leafon we find them ftyled in 
different authors both kings and confuls *. However, thefe 
did not in all things correfpond i for the Spartan kings were 

" Ifocrat. in NicocL ^ Chrift. Hendreich. ubi fupra, p. ^u^ . 

Corn. -Nep. in Annib. Diod. Src lib, xiv. &c. « Juft. lib. xxxi» 

Calid. apud Feftum, &c. Hend. k Ubbo Emm. ubi fapra« 

or t>oUcy regarded men as rich oonfiderations had their infli^ 
and poor-; aril^bcracy, as rich, ence in the Carthaginian com- 
poor, and virtuous ; both which monwealth* 

perpetual, 



228 ^^ Hiftoty of the Carthaginians. 

perpetual, had ah hereditary right of fuccaffion'/, and the 
ftate was fupplied with them from two families only. But 
the Carthajginian fuffetes were annually eledied out of the 
noble ft families, and were always fuch perfons as mod at- 
trafted the public favour by their virtue and great talents, 
as well as their wealth. For which reafon Ariftotle prefers 
the fupreme magiftrates of Carthage to thofe of Lacedae- 
mon. The Roman confuls had not only a great (hare irt 
the adminiftration of civil, but likewife in the condu£l of 
military affairs ; but it is very probable that the fuffetes 
were, generally fpeaking, confined to the former. Their 
province was to aflemble the fenate, in which they pre- 
'fided *, to propofe fubjefts for deliberation, to tell the 
voices, and to prefide likewife in all emergent and decifive 
debates. It does not appear by whofe fuffrages the fuffetes 
were elefted, but moft likely* either by thofe of the cen- 
tumvirate, or the pebple. According to fome authors, they 
had the power of life and death, and of punifhing all cridies 
whatfoever. Their concurrence in all points with the fe- 
nate was neceffary, in order to prevent any debate from 
coming before the people. It is remarkable, that' moft, if 
not all the cities o( note in the Carthaginian dominions S 
had their fuffetes or chief magiftrates, as well as the me- 
tropolis. 
ni fenate. ^^ fenate was a moft auguft affembly, compofed of per- 
fons veiierable for their age and experience, as well as il- 
luftrious on account of their birth, their riches, and, above 
all, their merit. They attained this honour by eleftion ; 
but who were their eleftors is not known. Their number 
likewife we are ignorant of, though from Juftin ^ we may 
infer, that it greatly exceeded that of either the Spartan of 
Kbman fenators \ for, according to this author, a hundred 
were felefted from it, and appointed as judges to enquire 
' ' into the condudl of their generals. If this numt>er was 

thought, requifite to infpeft into this fingle article, ho^ 
many muft have been deemed neceffary to fuperintend, and, 
in concert with the fuffetes, manage every branch of the 
adminiftration ! In this grand ** council, every thing relat- 
ing to peace and war, to negotiations and alliances, CO trad6 
and navigation, in fhort^ to all affairs of confequence^ whe- 
ther foreign or domeftic, were debated, and for the moft 

y Arift. de Rep. lib. ii. cap. ii. ^Liv. ubi iupra, Ac lib* xxxiv. 
Poly b. lib. iii. « Ubbo £mm* & Hendr- ubi fupra. bSeldem 

de Diis.Syris in Prolegom. cap* ft. & Boch. Chan, ubi fupra.^ ^ Juf** 
tin. lib. xix. «i Ubbo Emm. ubi fupra» Folyb. iib»ui. cap. 151 

AppUn* id Libyc. Plod. Sic. lib« xlv. 
" part 



'The Hijlory of the Carthaginians. 23$ 

part determined. So that the whole machine of govern- 
ment was animated and kept in motion by it 5 life and 
fpirit were from thence difFufed over all the public delibe- 
rations. When the votes of the fenate were unani'mous, 
they had the force of laws, and from hence there lay no 
appeal. But when there was either a divifion or a difagree- 
ment with the fufFetes, the affair in queftion was referred 
to the people, who, in fuch a cafcj had the liberty of of- 
fering their fentiments freely, and even of contradifting 
the other pa^rts of the legiflaturc. What was thus offered^ 
. paflcd into a Jaw, the people, in all emergencies of this 
nature, being the dernier refort of power. However, as 
Ariftotle obferves, this was a defeft in the" conftitution, and 
U'as at laft attended with fatal confequences. For, during 
the fecond and third Punic wars, the populace at Carthage 
prevailed over the fenate, whilft the fenatorial authority at 
Rome was in its full vigour; which, if we niay give credit 
to Polybius, was the principal caufe of the rife of the one, 
and fall of the other. We muft not ® omit, that none but 
perfdns of the moft diftinguiflied merit were ele£led fe- 
nators, nor that their office and dignity were perpetual. 

What authority the people in Carthage poffeffed, whilft Powir of 
the different parts of which the conftitution was framed thepeopk 
were duly proportioned to one another, and each of them ^* ^^'•" 
enjoyed its natural (hare of powers does not appear from '^*'^'« 
any ancient author. It is ' likely tlviy had a vote at the 
cleftion of magiftrates, at the enafting of laws, particu- 
larly thofe in which they were immediately concerned, and^ 
in (hort, in every thing that bore any relation to them. In 
Ariftotle *6 days, the commonwealth feems to have deviated 
from its original perfedlion, having too ftrong a tendency 
to popular government. However, the fenate ftill preferved 
a confiderable degree of authority, and the power of the 
people was far from being uncontrolable ; but in Hanni- 
bal's time, about a hundred yealrs after, there was reafpn to , 
apprehend a total fubverfion of the conftitution : the fenate ' 
had little regard or attention paid to it ; the people arro- 
gated to themfelves almoft the whole power, and of courfe 
€very thing which might have promoted the public welfare 
Was obftru<aed by a few ambitious and implacable dema- 
gogues. From this period the moft famous and potent ftate 
of Carthage began to decline, and, in the courfe of a few. 
years, loft not only its liberty but its very being. 

The centumvirate, or tribunal of the hundred, confifted thi cm* 
of a hundred and four perfons, not fimply of a hundred, as tumwratg 

J Arift. ubi fupra. Ub Emm. Hcnd. Polyb, Liv. Juft.&c.paff. ^^^Zl 
' Ub. Emm. & Hcnd. ubi fupra. fww^//. 

the \ 



J4P s fheJRftory of the Cartbagiman^. 

the n^mc implies, rac^ving its 4cnopiin9tiQn frotn the 

greater number ^* According to Ariftotle, who ^s the only 

gutbor tb»t has giv^n us ^py 4efcription pf it,^h(B pp^yier it 

enjpyed was very extenfiye, though confined chiefly .tp thi^g^ 

pf ^ judicial nature **, From this tribunal were it\dB^tA fiye 

judges, whpf(p juri£di£):ipn was fuperior to that of the reft» 

|o whom we may with.prQpriety gjve the n^m^ of quinquer 

yirSi or |he quinquevirate. They had the power not only 

pf filling up all v^ancips in their otirn body, but like^ife 

of chuling thofe perfons who compofed the tribunal of the 

Jiundred \ were, under the fuffeteS| at the head qf this trir 

. bun^l I and had, in a great, meafure, the lives, fortunes, 

gnd repuutions of a}l the citi^^ns depiehdi.ng upon theflfi, 

Ariftptle informs us, that the Carthaginian centun^yirate 

anfwered in feveral refpefls to the epbor^ at 3parta ; but, 

wi;h deference to this philofopher, we thinjc the quinqae- 

virate ihould be fubftituted in its ropni, as having a better 

title to the comparifon^ 7^'he great autboHty annexed tQ 

the quinquevirate g^ve the Carthaginian ftate the ;|ppearanc# 

of an oUg^irchy, though^ asjtfae mcm^hers of this council difr 

charged the duties^f their fun£t.ion without any falairy 4tr 

rii^w^r-d, and were ek£led freely by fuffrages^ j^pt by .l(j[, it 

had li)^ewiie the refen;iblance of ^n ^rifiocracy K UVI19 

£p:imius ^ thin)c$, tha{ the fufFetes prefided in ithi^ counci), 

and Itbe (centu^?ivi.rate, a^ wel} as in the fenaji^, being thf 

chief mi|giftr;^tes |(;b;^rued in the a^miujAr^tion of juilice, 

If fp, their oi^oe w^^, ;n all probability^ perpetual, till t))^ 

time of tlannib;4 ', by whofe influence a law paiT^d, where<r 

by it was lena^^, that all the judges (hP^^ ^ chpfen aQt 

nuftUy^ with ? claufe, that np^^.flipuld cpntinjue in office 

beyond tji»t t^rm* 

CMl «/- '1 be priftcipa], if not only, civil pffijCers eftabli{h^4 at Car-r 

fcersmt tbage ,(befi.des the fixfletes), th^ havp been reme^pbered by 

Carthagi. ^Jve aQ(:ients, were the praetor, the quise/lpr, and t^vp cenfor* 

^hiprtg* '^b^ great H^nibid fagd the pr^orfliip "^ icon/e/red upw 

iSr. him i^? ^h? ivfth year aftejr the conclu(ip;i^ of tjje f|p;e.Qi^d y\^f 

nif: war^ U^m wheftice ilt is evident;* .tha^ this n>uft W$ 

been on^ of ,the ^firft ^mplpyme^t^ j;U the fl;ate. The perfpi^ 

in veiled with this ;high dignity h^d a great influence, .^gi; 

only ip^ paiTing, -but lik&wife 2a:repealing laws, s& may \f$ 

i^fenred from ^ai^i;i^baFs impea^hi^ig ^he yvho\^ be.nch pf 

jii4ge^, and c^ryiflgfhis ppint ^g^in(): tjbc^, during bis poa^ 

tinuance in ;Uis p(b(;e« .He ;a)4> ^epf iyed th^ tribute pai4 

% Juft^ lib., pt'wc. Arift. uhi fupra. > Idfm U>icl» * Mcfji 

ibid. k Ub. Emm. ubi fupra. ^ Liv. lib. xxxiii* a idem 
ibid. &<Ub« Zvoma^ ubi.Aipra* 



The liifiory of the Carfhaginians* ^41 

by tb€ difi^rent nations under the Carthaginian powers coU 
kded the yearly taxes and fubfidies levied upon the citl* 
Eens^ and had the care of every thing relating to the public 
tevenues. It is remarkable, that a tranfitioii from the of* 
fice of fuffetes (after it became annual) to the prsetorihtp .^ 

was not uncommon in Carthage ". Whether there we ri 
more praetors than one in this republic, or whether any 
branches of bufmefs, befides thofe above mentioned, per- 
tained to the office, are points that, for want of fumcient 
ligl^t from antiquity, cannot be determined. 

The quaeftor was an officer belonging to the bench of Thi fw^r* 
judges, who, though fubordinate to them, had a very con- f^* 
fiderable degree of power. He like wife collected and ma*» 
naged the public money, under the praetor; which induced 
Livy to give hifn the name of quxftor. This officer, in his 
double capacity, feems to have anfwered to the old Roman 
i{U2e(lors) who were introduced under the regal government, 
as well as thofe who were appointed in the time df the com- 
monwealth. He was fometimes at lead, if not of courfe, 
admitted into the bench of judges, at the expiration of his "^^ 

office. This, and the other particulars, we learn from Livy ^ 

and Polybius ; but nothing farther concerning him or his 
funfllon. 

We find another civil officer eftabliflied at Carthage, man* 
irhofe bufinefs was to infpeft into the manners of the citi- f9rk 
2€ns; on which account he is filled by Cornelius Nepos ", 
the prasfed of manners, or the cenfor. Hamilcar, the fa- 
ther of Hannibal, though the 'firfl man in the republic, 
could not efcape this infpeftion ; for the cenfor took froih 
him a beautiful youth, named Afdrubal, on a report that 
he was more familiar with this youth than was confident 
with decency. Hence we may conclude, that the power of 
this magiftrate extended to every fubjedl of the ftate, even . 
thofe of the greateft abilities and diftinflion. 

Our readers muft not expeft any regular fyftem of the 7he Cat^ 
Carthaginian laws. The utmoft we can pretend to is to thaginhan , ^ 
give a few fragments, or rather traces, of an inconfiderable '**"• 
part of thefe laws. They have all long fince been, buried 
in oblivion ; nor have even the titles, except what we here 
produce, cfcaped the general wreck oFtime. 

I. There was a law of very long ftanding amongft the Car- thildtin of 
thaginians p, by which they were enjoined to facrifice to Sa- 'l^**/^^/*'" 
turn only children nobly born. This, not being obferved ^'f ^^ ^^' 



turn^ 



« Polyb. Diodor. • Corn. Nep. in Vit- Hamilc. p IModor. 

Sic. lib. XX. Plut. de Supcrftit. & de Scr. Vindic. Dcor. Hcrodot. 
"b. vii. 

• Vol. XV. R for 



242 The Hi/lory of the Carthaginians, 

for fome time, grew into difufe, the children of fiaves and fo- 
reigners being fubflitured in their room ; but when Aga- 
thocles reduced Carthage almoft to the lall extremity, it was 
revived, the inhabitants imputing all their misfortunes to the 
anger of Saturn, who, as they imagined, was offended at 
the negleft of this law. However, to atone for this crime, 
two hundred children of the bed families in the city were 
offered to that deity. 
Ctres ami 2. By another law, Ceres and Profcrpina were admitted 
Proferpina \^x.o the number of the Carthaginian deities. Magnificent 
tt^^he ftatues were erefted in their honour; priefls were fele£^ed 
number of from amongfl the moit diflinguifhed families of the city for 
theXartha- their fervice ; and facrifices, after the Greek manner, were 
ginian dei' offered up. This regulation took place during the confterna- 
''*■" tion the people of Carthage were thrown into by the Afri- 

can infurreftion, and the misfortunes that attended them in 
their war with Dionyfius the tyrant of Syracufe. It was in- 
flituted in order to appeafe the anger of thefe goddefles, 
whofe farther refentment they dreaded, becaufe Himilco, 
the Carthaginian general in Sicily, had plundered their tem- 
ples in the fuburb of'Acradina. 
Creek Ian- 3. About this time a law was enafted at Carthage ^J, by 
guAgeform <which all the inhabitants were prohibited learning either to 
bidden m ^irrite or fpeak the Greek language. It was hoped by this 
«r age. reftridlion to prevent for the future all treafonable corre- 
fpondence with the enemy. The law was occaConed by a 
Carthaginian traitor, who, writing in Greek to Dionyfius, 
had given him intelligence of the motions of the army, and 
particularly of its departure from the city : but this law was 
afterwards either repealed, or totally negle£ted; for we 
find, that the '^ great Hannibal himfelf underflood this Ian* 
guage fo well, that l^ compofed in it a hiftory of the ao 
tions of Manlius Vulfo, during the time of his proconful- 
(hip in Afia, having been taught it by Sofilus the Lacedae- 
monian. 
, 7he un» 4. It has been hinted, that a council was formed at Car- 

iumyirate thage, confifling of a*hundred perfons taken out of the fc- 

^aLalliitiH nate, whofe province it wafe to enquire into the conduftof 

rejtratntne ,' * 1 r 1 • vt 

pomuer of their generals at the end of the campaign. Now, it can- 

the Car' not be fuppofed, that this could any otherwife have bcencf- 

thaginian fefted than by a law pafTed for that purpofe. The ends 

generaU' propofed by this law were, to reduce the exorbitant power 

of Mago's family within proper bounds, which, by engroff- 

in^ the firft employments, was become formidable to the 

ftate} and to fecure the republic againft the great authority 

4 Juft. lib. XX. r Cornel. Nep. in Vit. Hannib, 

of 



. The Hifiory of the Carthaginians. ^4i 

of Its generals in fuccecding ages, j«rho, whilft in the^eld^ 
were quite defpotic. It is generally believed, that this coun- 
cil was the fame with the centumvirate, or tribunal of the 
hundred •. - * 

5. Afort of fumptuary law was enafted by the Carthaginian £xpenca 
fenate, to reflrain all kinds of excefTes- at marriages* This at mar* 
was occafioned by a defign of Hanno, the principal perfon riages lu 
in the city, to make himfelf mafter of the commonwealth ^'^^^* 
upon the day of his daughter's marriage. His intention 
was to keep open-houfe for the populace that day, and td 
regale the fenate in a mod magnificent manner. All tb« 
members of this body were to have been taken off by poifon 
at the entertainment, a ftep which would have enabled him 
to feize upon the government without oppofition. Hanno, 
upon account of his great wealth and power, had fuch an 
influence in the city, that the fenate, upon the difcovery of 
this plot, did not think proper to puniOi him for it ; but 
contented themfelves with paffing this law '. - ^ 

The Carthaginians being defcended from the Tyrians, Aetigioncf 
their religious worfhip muft of courfe have agreed in all the Car* 
points at firft with that of the Phoenicians, which has been '^«<g''»'««/' 
already in fome meafure defcribed. In procefs of time, by 
their intercourfe with the Greeks, efpecially thofe of Sicilyi 
they gradually imbibed the fuperftition of that nation, adopt- 
ed feveral new deities before unknown ", and intermixed 
fome of the Greek religious ceremonies with the Tyrian, 
The Carthaginians likewife, by reafon of their extended v 

commerce, muft have been acquainted with the different 
' kinds of fuperftition eftabliflied in moft nations, with which 
doubtlefs. they tinftured their own. From whence, as well 
as from other confiderations, it appears, that the religion 
of Carthage was a very grofs and multifarious idolatry. 

The knowlege we have of the Carthaginian manner of 
worfhip, as well as the objefts of that worfliip, is derived 
from the Greek and Roman writers, who have affixed the 
names of their own gods ^ to thofe of the Carthaginians. 
This praftice has rendered their accounts and obfervations ^ 
on this head more imper'feft and lefs valuable ; for though 
we know, that the Egyptian, Phoenician, Greek, Roman, 
and Carthaginian deities did in general agree, yet we are as 
well aflured, that each of thofe nations had not only fome 
particular modes of worfliip, but likewife fome particulate 
deities peculiar to itfelf. It is injpoffible therefore to attain 
an cxaft knowlege of the Carthaginian gods from what is 

'l^ Juft. lib. xix. & lib. Emm. ubi fuprft. t Juft. lib. xxL 

■ Diodor. Sic. lib, xiv. xx. &c- ^ Herod. Polyb. 

R 2 delivered 



t44 ^^^ Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 

delivered. by the Greek and Roman authors. All we can 
do is, to confider their different attributes, and the circum- 
ftances attending that adoration their votaries paid them, as 
given us by the aacient authors. By comparing thefe with 
what we find related in holy writ of the idols of the Ca- 
naanites, and neighbouring nations, as well as the religious 
cuftoms and manners of thofe nations, we may, perhaps, 
give our readers a tolerable account of the religion of the 
Carthaginians. 
Saturn thi DiodorusSiculus aflerts, that the Carthaginians, in apar* 
principat ticular manner, adored Chronus, who, according toQuin- 
diity at tusCurtius ', and an infinity of other authors, was the Sa- 
CariAage. ^^j.^ ^f ^j^^ Latins. The facrifices offered to him were chil- 
dren of the moft diftinguiflied families. Upon the fignal 
defeat of the Carthaginian army by Agathocles, three hun- 
dred citizens voluntarily facrificcd- themfelves, in order to 
render him more propitious to their country. Diodorus 
• farther fays, that they had a brazen ftatue orcoloflus of this 
deity, the hands of which were extended in aft to receive, 
and bent downwards in fuch a manner, as that the child 
laid upon it immediately dropped into a hollow, where was 
a fiery furnace y. 

Though the Carthaginian god, to whom human vi£lims 
were fo agreeable, had the name of Chronus given him by 
Diodorus, yet we cannot certainly infer from hence^ that 
he was the fame deity; becaufe his Punic name is unknown, 
and therefore it is impoflible to determine whether it was 
of the fame import with Chronus. However, we ftiallen- 
/ deavour to fupply this defeft, by offering Tome reafons, 

which, if they will not abfolutely confirm the point in view, 
will yet render it highly probable. 

. In the firfl place, the Carthaginian cuftom of delivering 
their ofl'spring as an expiatory facrifice to this god, bears a 
great analogy to the Greek tradition concerning Chronus, 
that he devoured his own children. This feems to have 
been a great inducement to Diodorus to conclude that he 
and Chronus were the fame. 

Both the oblations offered to this Carthaginian deity, and 
the manner of offering them, as likewife the brafen ftatue 
mentioned by Diodorus, plainly fhew, that he was Molocb, 
or Milchom, the famous idol of the Ammonites, Canaanites, 
and neighbouring nations *. The defcription already give« 
. of this falfe divinity, in conjupftion with Scripture, will 

X Q^Curt. lib. iv. cap. 3. Pefcennius Feftus apud La6tant. Divin* 
Inftit. cap. «x. y Diodor. Sic. obi fcipra. ■ VideGfoi« 

in Levit. Voif. de IdotoUt. Le Clerc Com. in Levit. Saiirin*t Oi^ 
courfe, and Calmet's Diflertsuion on that fubjedt. 

remove 



The Hiftory of the Carthapnians. 2^45 

remove all doubts as to this point. Now, that Moloch or 
Milchom was the Chronus of Diodorus^ feems clear from 
the fbllowing coniiderations. 

Chtonus * had for a confiderable period, even amongft 
the old inhabitants of Latiuni, human vid^ims faciificed to 
him, as Moloch had in Paleftine. 

The Cretans ^ in ancient times offered children to Chro- 
nus, as the Canaanites and Phoenicians did to Moloch. 

Moloch was the principal god of the country in which 
his worfliip prevailed, as appears from his name, which im- 
plies fovereignty, from his having fuch particular notice 
taken of him in Scripture, and from the intimation given 
in holy writ, that he was the great god of the Ammonites. 
Now Chronus^ was the chief objeft of adoration in Italy, 
Crete, Cyprus,* Rhodes, and all other countries where di- 
vine honours were paid him. 

LaClly, to omit many other arguments that inight be 
produced^ both Moloch and Chronus were indifput ably the 
great Baal, Bel "^ or Belus of the Sidonians, Babylonians^ 
and Aflyrians, and confequently the fame individual deity. 

Baal, Belus, Bal or Bel, (for he was known by all thefe 
names) was the great god of the Carthaginians. As it is 
therefore apparent from Scripture, that he was delighted 
with, human facrifices, and as he was the Chronus of the 
Greeks, it is evident that the Carthaginian divinity Diodo- 
rus had in view muft have been really Chronus. 

The goddefs Cceleftis or Urania was held in the higheft rbegoddifs 
veneration by the Carthaginians. The prophet Jeremiah • ^Jplipped 
calls her Baaleth Shemaim, the queen of heaven, i.e. Juno g^fCar* 
Olympia \ Megafthenes ^ in Eufebius, gives her the name thage. 
of Beltis, or queen Beltis 5 Sanchoniatho s, in Philo Byb- 
lius, Dione and Baaltis j Hefychius ^, Belthes. According 
to this laft author the word was applied both to Juno and 
Venus \ and indeed in the Phoenxian theology we fcarce 
find any diftin61ion betwixt thefe two deities. St- Auguftin 
fays, that Carthage was the place where Venus had efta- 

, *Macrob. Saturn Jib. i. cap. 7. Ovid, in Faft. La6lant.de Falf. Re- 
l*»g» lib. i. Seld. de Diis Syr. Syntag. i. cap. 6. Dan. Clafeniusin Thcol. 
Gent. lib. iii. cap. 4 Shcrlo^. Antiq. Bibl. de Moloch. ^ Iftrias 

in Colleit. Sacrific & Dan. Clafenius ubi fup. « Vofltas de Ido- 

lolat. Ovid. Macrob. Iftr. Porpbyr. Seld. Clafen. &c. ubi fupra. 
* SeW. dc Biis Syr. ubi ftip. Voffius ubi fup. lib. ii. cap. 5. Vid. 
etiam Lud. Viw. ad D. Auguft. (k Civ. Dei, lib. vii. cap. 9. Cumbeir- 
la»d on Sanchoniath. p. 152. Suid- fub voc. Bcex. « Jer. vii, 

?*• xliv. 17, & alibi, ^ Megafthenes & Abydenus apud Eufeb. 

in Cbron. g Sanchoiiiatb. & Philo Bybl. apud Eufeb. de Priep. 

Afang. lib, i, ^ Hefy«h» fub. voc. Bixflnff. 

R ^ bliflxcd 



2^6 The Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 

fclifiied her reign ' j and Virgil informs us, that Juno pre- 
ferred that fpot to all others, even to Samos Itfelf. As 
therefore both the Greeks and Romans had, generally fpeak- 
ing, one chief divinity to prefide over every particular citjr, 
country and diftrift, this double one muft have been owing 
to the Phoenician or Punic word above mentioned, which 
included both of the goddefles. Afhteroth and Aftartewere 
fynonymous to Urania and Baaltis, and denoted the moon 
as well as Venus and Juno, who was invoked in great cala- 
mities, particularly in droughts, to obtain rain ^. The an- 
cient Greekyfrequently confound Juno, Venus, and Diana^ 
or the Moon ; which is to be attributed to the Egyptians 
and Phoenicians, from whom they received their fyftem of 
religion, who fecm in the moft ancient tinges to have had 
but one name for them all. In fuch a perplexed point as 
this we (hall expatiate no farther, fmce it would be both 
fruitlcfs and unnecelTary ; befides, it would carry us from 
our fubjeft. 
Many def- Befides the firft Belus already mentioned, thete were fe- 
ties nvent veral Others of a later date in great repute amongft the Phoc- 
anciintly nicians, particularly thofe of Tyre, apd of courfe amongft 
r'rmeof the Carthaginians. Jupiter, Mars, Bacchus, Apollo or the 
Bf'Ui. Sun, were all of them fo ftyled, according to the moft cele- 
brated authors who have treated of this fubjeft. That Ju- 
piter was worfhipped by this people under the denomination 
of Belus or Baal, is notorious from Polybius, Menandcr 
Ephefius, and Dius K To him they addrefled their oaths, 
^and placed him, as there is'reafon to believe, in general, at 
the head of their treaties. For whicfi reafon fome have not 
fcrupled to affirm, that he was the Baal Berith of Phoeni- 
cia "* ; but we are rather inclined to fuppofe with biffiop 
Cumberland, that his laft deity was Chronus ^. Mars, ac- 
cording to the Chronicon Alexandrinum, compared with 
Homer and Heftiaeus, an ancient author cited by Eufebius*, 
was dignified with the title of Belus by the Perfians, Affy- 
rians, and doubtlefs by the Carthaginians alfo, fince he was 
a favourite divinity in their ftate, efpecially amongft their 
generals. Bacchus was called Belus by the poet Nonnus^; 
and no wonder, fince he is often taken to be the fame with 
the poet Jupiter. The nation we are treating of had, in all 

i D. Auguft. in Pfal. xcviii. Ic Tertul. Apolog. cap. >}• 

I Polyb. lib. vii. & alib. pafT. Menander Ephefius & Diu« apud Jo- 
feph. Antiq. lib. viii. cap. 2. ^ M3anicr in Mythol. vol.i. 

n Cumberland on Sanchoniath. p. 151* ^ liomer. paff. Hcftiaens 
^ . apud Eufcb. de Praep. Evang. lib. ix. & apud Jofeph. Antiq. lib. i. 

cap. 6. Vid. ctiam Selden. de Diis Syr. Syntag. 2* P Nonnoiift 

Dionyfiac. apud Seld.de Diis Syr. Syut. a, 

probability. 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 247 

probability^ fome knowlege of him. ApoHo^ or tbe Sun, 
went frequently either by his name (imply, or by others, in 
which this made one part of the compofition ^. Though 
fometimes the people of Carthage repofed great confidence 
in him, yet we find their anceilors, the Tyrians, .in a cafe 
of extremity, were doubtful of him : for being apprehen- 
five that he intended to forfake them, and join Alexander, 
then vigorouily pufliing on the fiege of their city, they faft- 
'ened his ftatue with golden chains to the altar of Hercules'. 
Neptune was likewiie one of the Dii magni majorum gen- 
tium, or'gods of the firft clafs, of the Carthaginians '. It 
cannot well be doubted but that he was the Baal of Sidon, 
called Thalaffius, or the Sea Baal. 

The word Baal, in itfelf an appellative, at firft ferved to Baal at 
denote the true God, among thofe who adhered to the true Jirft anami 
religion; though afterwards, when it became common ^f^^'^^^^ 
amongft the idolatrous nations, and they, as well as his ^ ' 
own people, applied it to their refpeftive idols, he reje£(ed 
it ^ The falfe god to whom they firft appropriated it w^s 
Chronus or Saturn, as intimated above. In procefs of time 
it became a title or mark of diftin£iion, prefixed to the 
names of many others. Hence the Baal-Peor, Baal-Zehub, 
and BaaUMoloch of the Syrians and Fhcenician^. The term 
imported god or lord amongft the Orientals, as %eus did 
amongft the Greeks. The plural Baalim in Scripture fig-« 
nifics gods^ iordsf maftersy and fovereigns^ correfpondent to 
the fenfe of Bel in the Chaldee tongue. ' According to Ser» 
viu8% who is followed by Voflius, Bal in the Punic lan- 
guage had two figrfifications ; it either fpecified Saturn, or 
was equivalent to the Latin deus ox god. Xenophon infinu* 
ates, that in the earlieft tinjes, every head of one of the moft 
illuftrious families in all countries was called Chronus or Sa- 
turn *, every firft-born fon or daughter of fuch families Ju- ^ 
piter or Juno ; and the moft valiant of their offspring Her* 
cules. Theodoret feems to apply this cuftom to the Phoe- 
oicians in particular ^ ; adding, that fuch noble perfohages 
were deified for fome fignal fervice they did to their coun- 
try. As we have made Baal and Zeus or Jupiter words of 
the fame import in different languages, we may fay of the 
former what Varro in Tertullian fays of the latter, that the 
number of thofe fo ftyled amounted to three hundred. Ne- 
venheiefs, foilie are of opinion that there were originally but 
two gods of the Phoenicians, and confequently of the Car* 

'{ Sclden Aibi fup. ' Q;^Curt. lily. iv. cap. 3. . * Polvb, 

U'o. vii. niod. Sic. lib.jtiii. . . « Seld. de Diis Syr. cap. i. fub. 
inju & HoCii. 16, 17.. - n Serv. in ^n. i. Voff. Thcol. Gent lib. 
". cap. 4. « Thcodoicr/rdcjSrKP* Affe^4iU.«ii. . 

R 4 'thaginians; 



m 

248 The Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 

tbs^mians $ or> what is the fame thing, that all the otbcf 
dfCities were refolvable into two, namely, Baat * and Aflito-* 
reth, or Belus and Aftarte. 
Thi Sun Baalfam^n, or, as the Hebrews would have written it, 

'worjhipped Baal-Shemaim, that is, the lord of heaven^ appears to have 
«f Car- been the Sun, as Belifama, or the queen of heaven^ the Moon. 
^ ' According to St. Audinhe had religious honours paid him 
hy the Carthaginians >^. It is probable they had no repre- 
fentalion of him, becaufe they could not forbear beholding 
hiia daily in all his glory. Damafcius calls him £1, Bola- 
thes, and makes him to have been the fame with Saturn ^ 
at likewife Tbe Carthaginians introduced Ceres and Proferpina as 
Ceres anJ Gre/sk deities, when ill fucccfs attended tbeir arms in the 
Profyrfina^ war with Dionyfius the tyrant of Syracufe. The ftatues of 
thefe goddcflea ftood in the templ^ of Dido^ who was Hkc- 
wife deified by thofe idolaters, together with her fifter Anna. 
We find on the reverfes of feveral Carthaginian coins an 
ear or ears of corn, either in allufion to the goddefs Ceres, 
or as a fymbol of the fruitfulnefs of the country. 
and Mer- As the Carthaginians were a people who fupported than- 
eurj^' felves chiejBy by commerce, it cannot be fuppofed that they 

negle£led the wqrihip of the god of genius, induftry, and 
traffic. The ancients allotted this province to Mercury^ and 
accordingly we find the Carthaginians oiFered divine honours 
to him under the name of Afumes or Afoumes \ 
Divine ho- Nothing is more celebrated in ancient hiftory than tkc 
flours paid Tyrian Hercules, whofe worfliip was brought to Carthage 
^!fo fo |jy Dido, and diiFufed itfelf afterwards overall the coaftsof 
Hercu es. ^fj-^ca, and as far as Gades or Cadiz, where he had a mag- 
nificent temple. The Tyrians and Carthaginians fuppofed 
him to prefide over gold, filver, »and all forts of treafures; 
on which account he was held in high veneration in the 
ifland of Thafus, where a Phoenician colony being planted, 
difcovered fome gold mines- The Thafians adored him with 
the fame foleranity as the people of Tyre, erefting a brazen 
ilatue to him ten cubits high, with a club in the right hand 
and a bow in the left ; in which manner they undoubtedly 
lEprefcnted him both at Tyre and Carthage. The PelafgiS 
criginally Phoenicians, vowed him the tenths of every thing 
they had, on account of a great fcarcity of grain they oiicc 
kboured under. The Car&haginianb, for a con fid citable time, 
|iever failed fending to Tyre th« firftTfruits of their rcrcnuesi 

K Sefd. de Diis Syr. Synt. a. cap. 2. p. 145. Shuckford in his Con- 
ned b. y. X TVaguA; in Jud. qiisft. 16. z Damafc. in Vit^ 
liidor^ a^Pltn* Nat. Htft.lib. xxv. cs^. $. &Boeiiarc ei( Au^i- 
ciaIliio&.'Chan. lib. if cap. xvw • ^ Strab. Herodot. Dionyf* 
Halicarn. £jpipbaJ».¥o&i)t$aimaf. Qr0^" ' 1 • 



Tie Hi/iory of the Carthaginians. 249 

witii the tythc of the, fpoils taken from their enemies, as offer** 
ingsto Hercules, the proteftorof Tyre and Carthage ^. Pub- 
Ik di verfions were inflituted inhonaur of him at Tyre, which 
they celebrated every four years **. At Cartfaiige, no doubt, 
the fame cuftom prevailed, as likewife that of gratifying 
him annually with human viftims ^ Varro mentions forty- 
five heroes who bore this appellation ; but the oldeft feems 
to have b«en the Tyrian or Carthaginian Hercules. 

lolaus comes next to Hercules, as being either related to lolauu 
him, or who introduced fome of his relations into the ifland 
of Sardinia ^ The natives of that ifland at his arrival were. 
Tyrrhenians or Etrufcans. The people inhabiting the moun- 
tainous parts of Sardinia received the appellation of lolaenfes 
from him ; and even the moft fruitful provinces had the 
name of Campi lolei, the lolean or lol^an Fields ^. Her- 
cules and lolaus, according to VoiHus ^y had jointly divine 
honours paid them, either becaufe he was Hercules' near 
relation, or affifted him in deftroying the Hydra, which he 
performed by drying up the gore with a red-hot iron, when 
any of the heads was cut off, to prevent others from fprout- 
ing out in its room. Ovid pretends that, at the interceilion 
of Hercules, Hebe reftored him to his youth, when he was 
grown extremely decrepit. As the Carthaginians had this 
ifland »in poflefllon a confiderable time, it is fuppofed they 
borrowed him from the Sardi ; for that he was one of their 
principal deities we are given to underftand by Polybius ^. , 

The rites and ceremonies obferved at his public worfhip are 
fully defcribed by Voflius after Paufanias. 

' Hendreich intimates, that the Dea Syria, or Syrian God* Dia Syria, 
defs, was a deity of the Carthaginians ^ ; but who (he was 
authors are not agreed. By the defcription of her temple 
already given, and the (latue in it, (he muft either have 
been Juno, or a group of all the goddcflfes ; which laft opi- 
nion feems moft probable. The curious may find further 
fati)^fa£tion on this head> by confulting TertuUian and Lip- 
fius '. 

The people of Carthage likewife addrefled themfelves to Mfculor 
•£&ulapius, whom Servius calls Poenigena, becaufe he fup- /'»'• 
pofcs his mother to have been a Carthaginian. The place 
more particularly facred to him was Byrfa, or rather the topJ ^ 

rf that foftrefs, famous for his fpacious temple there fitu- 
Wed **• We have already obferved that Afdrubal's wife, 

c Polyb. in Excerpt. Legat. ^ Maccab. & Theodoret. lib. 

^meft. Serin, iii. cap. s. e Plin. lib. xxxvi. cap. 6. ^ Strab. 

Kb. V. 8 Diod. Sic. ^ Vofl: TheoL Geot lib. i . cap. 40. 

* Myb.Ub. vli, k Hcn4r. lib, ii. feft. i. cap. ^ 1 Teri«l. 

A(>ol. cap. 14, n Appian, 19 Lii^yc. 



250 ^^^ Htftory of the Carthaginians. 

at the final deftrudion of Carthage, burnt this edifice^ to- 
gether with herfelf, her family, and nine hundred Roman 
deferters. . Confiderable quantities of vervain, an herb fa- 
cred to him, were preferved in this place. The heft authors 
fuppofe him to have been originally a MeiTenian, or an 
Egyptian ; yet, according to VofBus, the Carthaginians re- 
ceived him immediately from the Tyrians, to whom he 
was introduced either by the Syro-Macedonians or Egyp- 
tians ". Alexander took Tyre in the fifft year of the hun- 
dred and twelfth Olympiad ; and Carthage was finally de- 
ftroyed by Scipio in the third year of the hundred and fifty- 
ejghth ; in the interval betwixt which two periods the wor- 
fliip of ^fculapius paffed from the Syro-Macedonians or 
Egyptians to the Tyrians, and from them to the Cartha- 
ginians. Toforthrus, or Seforthrus, a king of Memphis, 
and the fecond of the third dynafty of Manetho, for his 
great fkill in the art of phyfic, is generally allowed to have 
been the firft ^fculapius. 

Uenhus* Herebus, another Carthaginian deity mentioned by Si- 

}ius and Polybius, muft have been Pluto, or Dis. We 
know nothing farther of him, than chat he was invoked as 
the god of hell, and reprefented under a human fhape, with 
long loofe hair ®. 

^riun Triton, the fea god, had a place amongft the deities of 

Carthage, as we learn from the treaty concluded betwixt 
Philip, the fon of Demetrius, king of Macedon, and the 
Carthaginians. Some authors have told us, that he was fo 
called from TpiT®,*a Greek word fignifying a wave. It 
appears from Virgil, that Triton and Cymothoe were to re- 
leafe or heave oiF veffels run aground, and to clear them 
from the rocks. The ancient mythologifts make the nymph 
Cymothoe to have been the daughter of Nereus and Doris; 
but Triton the fon of Neptune and Amphitrite p. 

Mopfus. Mopfus, a famous augur or foothfayer, after his death 

became a fort of oracle at Carthage ^. 1 he memory of this 
deified fage has been tranfmitted to pofterity by Lu£fcatius 
Placidus and Apuleius ^ Strabo writes of one Mopfus, 
the fon o£ Mento, the daughter of Tirefius : but, according 
to Voffius, this was the fop of Ampycus, an Argonaut, 
mentioned by Apollonius and Valerius Flaccus *. All that 
can be added concerning him is, that temples were ereded 
to his honour by this nation, from whence, refponfes werq 
given, as from fo many oracles. 

» Voir, ubi fupra. lib. i. cap. 3*. • Sil Ital. lib. i. Polyb. 

lib. vii. P Virg. ^n. i> vcr. 148. • 9 Apul. de Deo Socrat. & 
Hcndr. ubi fupr^. ' Lu6^. Plac. in Stat. Thebaid iii. Apul. ubi 
fupra. * Valer. Flac. & Apollon. in Argonaut, . 

RivcrSj 



^he HifpOty of the Carthaginians. 251 

Rivers, meads and waters, or rather the fuppofed genii Ritifers, 
of a]l thefe inanimate parts of the creation, were objefts of mea^it, 
« adoration *. This cuftom like wife prevailed amongft the wa/zr/, 
Greeks, Romans, and moft other nations, from very ancient ^^-S^^^i 
times. No one has handled this fubjeft better than Vof- 
" fius, whofe writings our learned readers will perufe with 
jgreat pleafure. Some maintain, that the worihip of the 
eleKhents was prior to all others in the Pagan world ; but 
we cannot aflent to their opinion. 

Scaliger " the Elder acquaints us, that the old Africans as lihivi/i 
paid a religious homage to fire, which was perhaps like wife /r/j 
the cuftom at Carthage. This fentiment he feems to have 
taken from Leo African us *. 

With this * the air and winds alfo ihared divine honours, asal/otAe 
a pradlice probably derived from the Aflyrians. The air to air and 
this nation appeared to be fuperior to the other elements, "-^^^^^ 
and to have them, as it were,' under its government anddi* 
reft ion ; for which reafon it was honoured with adoration. 
We read in Sanchoniatho, that Ufous confecrated two rude 
fiones or pillars to fire and wind ; to which we may add, 
that the worfhip of the air and winds was not unknown. to 
the Greeks and Perfians. 

The Carthaginians fometimes fwore by the manes of Anna Pe^ 
Dido, as Silius relates. Anna, her fitter, paiTcd for a god- rtnnaivor^ 
defs, under the name of Anna Perenna. It is imagined, -^'^^f . 
though with no greait appearance of truth, that (he fled with * * 

.£neas, and was drowned by Lavinia in the river Numi- 
cus ^ ; fiom whence fhe was called Nympha Numicia. It 
is certain the Romans, as well as the Carthaginians, paid 
her divine honours. Ceres and Proferpina were ranked 
with Dido, as being all in the fame temple. Ceres was ei- 
ther cceleftis, that is, the moon^ or fubcceleftis, that is, the 
fruitful earth. She anfwercd to the Egyptian Ifis *. 

The honour that Dido herfelf received from the people ^/^l^^^' 
of Carthage after her death, (he, according to Ovid, had in x),v/aV Itfe- 
her life-time conferred upon her hufband Sichaeus*. time \ and 

Tellus, or the Earth, was worfliipped by the Carthagi- TW/wj 
nians, as appears from the treaty of peace with Philip, men- 
tioned by Polybius. For a further account of this deity, our 
readers may have recourfe to Voflius., 

t Sil. ItaL lib.]. Voir, ubi fupra, cap. 67. « Jul. Csf. 

Scalig. Exercit. a 58* ^ }oan, Leo African, de Prifc, Afric* 

Fid. & Rclig. lib. i. ^ Jul. Firmic. Profan. Rclig. Lib. y Ovid. 
Faft. lib. iii. z Lipfius de Cruc, lib. i. cap^ 5. Pompon. Sabip. 

\n Mti^ iv. Varro apud Vofll ubi fupra* P. Nanmui in Mifc* Ub. 
Ifii* cap, 10, a PoJyb, lib. vii. 

<« Hamil- 



252 ^^. tiifi(»y of the Carthaginians* 

as lUtivnfi ** Hamilcar ^ (fays Herodotus), by his father's fid€ a 
Hamikuri Carjthaginian, but by his mother's a Syracufaiii was, by rear 
fon of nis virtue and fupersor abilities, elected king of the 
Carthaginians. The fame day that the battle of Salamis 
was fought, being defeated by Gelon and (his father-in-law) 
Theron near Himera, he vaniihed, aAd could never after 
be found, though Gelon caufed the (tri£te(l fearch to be 
made after him. The Carthaginians, who held his image 
in high veneration, fay, that during the engagement between 
the Barbarians and Greeks, which continued from morn- 
ing till evening without intermiflion, Hamilcar ftaid in the 
camp facrificing, and throwing entire vi£lims upon a flam- 
ing pile ; but that feeing his troops routed, he bimfelf rufh- 
ed into the iire> ^nd being confumed, was never more feen. 
Whether he difappeared in the manner related by the Pbce- 
3[iicians^ or as the Carthaginians aflert, it is certain, that the 
Carthaginians offer facrificea to him, and have erected mo- 
numents to his memory in all the cities they have founded, 
though the mofl memorable are in Carthage." So far He* 
rodotus. It is not unlikely that the Carthaginians adopted 
other favourite generals into the number of their gods^ 
and we are afTured by Silius, that not with flandiag the infa- 
mous treatment he met with from his countrymen at laft, 
Hannibal was adored in his life-time ^. Thefe deities were 
of the fame kind with the Dii Indigetes of the Latins. 
and the The Carthaginians alfo ranked among their gods the twp 

FhiUnL Philaeni. Thefe brothers having been fent by their coun- 
trymen to accommodate fome differences with the Cyre- 
neanss and, in conjun£%ion with the commiffaries appointed 
by that people, to fettle the limits of their refpedlive domi- 
nions, by fraud extended their own frontiers, to the preju- 
dice of the others. The Cyreneans, incenfed.at this unfair 
dealing, would not cede the tract demandt^di unlefs the 
Philaeni would fu&er tbemfelves to be buried alive in the 
place \yhich they had pitched upon for their boundary. To 
this propofal they inftantly agreed, and had afterwards two 
altars eredted to their memory ; which ferved as a land- 
mark or limit to the Carthaginian territories on the fide 
cf Cyreniaica for many fucceeding ages. Saltuft, Meb, 
and Valerius Maximus, relate all the particuUfS of tbU 
ftory '^. 

b Herodot. lib. vii. c $il. ital. lib. xvii. & Bartbius m 

Adverf. p. Soi. ' SalluA. Jugiirttr. cap* 79. Pomp. Meta> 

lib. i. cap. 7. Valerius Mia?sim. Kb. v. cap. 6. Vide Polyb. lib. iii* 
Sfrab. lib iii. Piin, lib. v. c^. 4. Sblm. csp. ^ t, Cellar. Geog* 
Ant. lib, iv. cap. 3, 

St. 



l%e Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 253 

St. Auftin tells us, that fomc of the Carthaginian divi- 
nities had the name of Abaddires *, and their priefts that 
6f Eucaddires : but we are altogether in the dark with re-^ 
fpe£l to their nature, origin, and worfhip. 

We muft not omit, that the Carthaginians carried about Partahli 
lOv'ith them fome fmall images, reprcfenting certain gods, in ^^f^p^fs /» 
covered chariots. E uftathi us calls thefevaair ^€1/711 ^op«/iAm<, ^Icarth-' 
portable temples, or temples carried by oxen. They were ginianu 
a fort of oracle, and their refponfes were underftood by the 
motions imprcfled upon the vehicle This was likewifc an 
Egyptian and Libyan cuftom. The ancient Germans alfo 
bad fomething like it, as we learn from Tacitus ^ Philo 
Byblius maintains, that Agrotes «, or at leaft his image, was 
carried about in proceffion in this manncK The tabernacle 
of Moloch, above mentioned, we take to have been a ma- 
chine of this kind. 

It is remarkable, that, in the treaty with Philip fo oftett ^hiGniiui 
cited^ mention is made of the Daemon or Genius 6f Car- ^ ^^^' 
thage •*. Who this might be, we (hall not take upon us to ^ ^^'* 
determine; but only in general obferve, that the pagan 
world looked upon thefe dsemons as intelligences of a 
middle nature betwixt the gods and men, as beings who 
direfted, in a great meafure, the adminiftration of th^ 
world. 

The Cabiri were likcwife adored at Carthage. The Phoe- 
nicians firft paid them divine honours, afterwards the Egyp- 
tians, who built them a magnificent temple at Memphis m 
the earlieft ages, which continued to the time of Achillea 
Tatius. The Syrians, Egyptians, Greeks, Cypriots, Phry- 
gians, Etrufcans, Latins, Carthaginians, and almoft all the 
ancient Pagans, had the moil profound reverence for the 
Cabiric or Samothraeian myfteries. The vulgar believed alt 
initiated into thefe myfteries, would be happy both here 
and hereafter. According to Sanchoniatho, the Dii Cabiri 
were eight in number, being the fons of Sydik. The in- 
habitants of Samothrace facrificed dogs to Hecate in thfe 
cave Zerinthus, facred to the Cabiri. The Pelafgi, Samo- 
thracians, &c. celebrated the Cabiric myfteries in the night- 
time, with great indecency ; a circumftancc which was 
the principal motive with the ancients not to tranfmit 
them in writing to pofterity. Bifhop Cumberland, the abbe 
Banier, and Aftorius, have almoft exhaufted this fubjeft. 

The Anaces, Anaftes, or Diofcuri, are by fome thought Andtht 
to have been the fame with the Cabiri \ but others differ i^i Anacts or 

• Auzuft. Epift. Max. Madaur. 44. r Tacit, de Sit. Mot. 

k Pop. Germ. g Phil. Bybl. apud Eufcb. dc Praep. Evang. lib. 1. 
Polyb. lib. vii. 

their 



254 



And Patau 
€1 orJPar 
Uteu 



^He at ft am 
cj facri- 
jicing mitt 
remained 
m Africa 
litl the 
time of 
liberiuS' 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 

their opinion. However thi$ may be, they were undoubt- 
edly defcended from the Anakiois of Mofes. It can fcarce 
be quedioned but Inachus himfelf was of this race, as his 
name plainly imports *. Some believe, that the word A- 
nades was a title given to thofe princes of Inachus's line, 
who had diftinguifhed themfelves by their heroic actions \ 
Be that as it will, this word evidently alludes to the name of 
that family, fo eminent irt Scripture for its gigantic (lature. 
In ancient times, there were not wanting inftances of per- 
fons of a monilrous (ize of body. However, many of thefe 
inftances, particularly, thofe produced by Phlegon, Abyde- 
nus, Solinus, and others ', are allowed to be fabulous. 

The ftatues of the gods called Pataeci, of the Cabiri, and 
of the Egyptian Vulcan, had a.great refemblance to one an- 
other. Since, therefore, Vulcan was efteemed the moft 
ancient of the gods, the Pataeci muft have been of great 
antiquity. In after-ages, the Penates had the fame refpefi 
paid them by the Romans, as thefe received from their vo- 
taries the Phoenicians and Carthaginians. The word, ac- 
cording to Scaliger,' is derived from the Hebrew patach^ 
he engraved^ or, as Bochart explains, from batachy he cow 
fided in ; either of which etymolpgies very well agree with 
the ufe the Phoenicians, and after them tne Greeks, made 
of the gods Pataeci™. 

The barbarous cullom of offering human facrifices did 
jiot expire with the city of Carthage, but continued amongft 
the Africans till the proconfulate of Tiberius. This fail 
we learn from Tertullian, who affures us, that this procon- 
ful was fo {hocked at the unnatural pradlice of offering up 
children to Saturn, that he "ordered the priefts concerned 
in that horrid impiety to be hanged, and committed the 
care of the execution to the African militia. The praftice 
had been letained, with little or no intermiffion, from the 
foundation of the city. For although the Carthaginians, 
to avoid drawing upon themfelves the indignation of Da- 
rius Hyftafpis % might, for a few years, fufpend it, or at 
leaft pretend to do fo, yet it is certain, that in his fuc- 
ccffor Xerxes* time they had refumed it. For Gelon, 
after he had vanquiftied them in the reign of that prince, 
concluded a treaty pf peace, of which this was one article, 
*' That no more human facrifices fliould be offered to Sa- 

i Cumberland, in Append. deCahir. &Banier. ubi fupra. k VoIT. 
Bochari. & Banier. ubi fupra. J ^^^^g; Trai- de Mir. cap. 14. 

Abyden. & Eupoiem. apud. Eufeb. Solin^ Berof. Piut. &c. » SiK 
Italic. Diod. .SicuK lib. ii. Ovid. Metam. lib^ v. Bochart. Chan. 
lib. i. cap. a8. » TcrtuU Apolog. cap. 9. • Juft. lib. xix. 



turn.' 



The Hijlory of the Carthaginians. 255 

turn P". At fuch a pitch of frenfy, or rather favage bar- 
barity, were they arrived, that mothers, who are natu- 
rally the mod fufceptible of tender impreffions, made it a 
merit to view their own oflFspring thrown into the devour- 
ing flames, without even uttering a groan. They often, 
by kifles and embraces, ftifled the cries of their children, 
before they were caft into the flaming ftatue of Saturn, 
imagining the efficacy of the facrifice would have been en- 
tirely loft, if any thing, that might have been interpreted 
as a maik of the lead relu£lanc6 or regret, had been fhewn. 
They u fed a dium or a tabret, among other inftruments, to 
drown the (hrieks and outcries of the unhappy viftims ^. 
Some authors believe, that the Phoenicians, from whom 
the Carthaginians derived this deteftable cuftom, contented 
themfelves with making their children pafs through the fire, 
without burning therh ; but Selden, and others, prove this 
to be a miftake ^ Plutarch tells us, that the mothers were, 
in fome meafure, obliged to ftand by as unconcerned fpedta- 
tors ; fijice a groan or tear falling from them would have 
been puniflied by a fine, and ftill the child muft have been 
facrificcd. In times of peftilence, or other public calami- 
ties, the Carthaginians endeavoured to appeafe their offend- 
ed gods by vaft numbers of fuch oblations'. 

From many authors it appears, that the Carthaginians were ^the Car- 
extremely addifted to fuperftition : they had, however, in ge- thaginians, 
neral, fome good maxims. They addrefl'ed themfelves to the ^^tremely 
gods, before they attempted to put in executioii any enter- ^ff^^ 
prize; and, after any advantage gained, they made proper ac- |/^, 
knbwlegments * to th^ powers' above. They abounded with 
very magnificent temples at Carthage, and took care to have 
no deficiency of them in any part of the Carthaginian domi- 
nions. One famous temple, facred to Baal or Balis, in a 
city of that name on the borders of Cy/enaica, we find no- 
ticed by Stephanus", who intimates, that the city received 
its appellation from that deity. There is great reafbn to 
believe, that El, II, Bel, Bal, Baal, Belus, Balis, and He- 
lius, were different names of the fame pagan divinity. 

We have already defcribed the manner in which the Ba- Carth^gU 
byloni an women proftituted themfelves to ftrangers at the »'^* «'^-. 
temple of Mylitta : the fame cuftom prevailed amongft the ^'^ Profli' 
Phoenicians, whofe women, for this end, repaired to the /^/^/j^" 
great temple of Aftarte at Byblus. We have now to add, gain in tht 

that the fame proftkution, in all refpedts, was praftifed at temple of 

Aftarte* 

p Plut. de Sen Vind. Deor. 9 Idem. ' Seld. de Diis 

Syr. Synt. i. • Diod. Sicul. lib. xx. « Liv. lib. xxi. 

xxiil &c. u Stephan. irk^X Ih^Miu 

Carthage \ 



%g6 ^he Hifiofy of the Carthaginians. 

Carthage ; excepting that the money obtained by this in- 
famous commerce, amongft the Babylonians and Phoeni- 
cians, was prefented to Mylitta or Aftarte, i. e. Venus; 
whereas the Carthaginian women applied the wages of their 
proftitution to their own ufe^. 
Fume The Hebrew and Phoenician languages were nearly the 

tongue at fame, as has been already obferved. Now, the Pocni or 
firfthe Carthaginians having been originally Phoenicians, it is un- 
{tTpAani' ^^"i^We, that their language muft at firft have been the 
€iam. Phoenician. However, Scaliger * believes, that the Punic 

(he muft mean that of after-ages), in fome refpefls, deviat- 
ed from the Hebrew and Phoenician ; a circumftance which, 
confidering how diftant the Carthaginians were from their 
mother-country Phoenicia, and the people they were incor- 
porated among, is not to be wondered zt» It is much more 
furprifing, that they (hould have retained fo much, nay, in a 
manner, the whole of their original tongue. For, that they 
did fo, after what has been advance4 bjr Scaliger, Petit, 
Bochart, and others, will fcarce admit ot a difpute. 

Bochart has produced a colleflion of Punic words from 
different authors, and traced them to the Hebrew or Phoe- 
nician. All which will ferve as fo many proofs, that the 
J . , Carthaginian language agreed in general with thefe ; that, 
Mfiauce notwithftanding fome fmall variations from its mother- 
nvitk the tongues, it ever continued to be the fame in fubftance with 
Mkrew. them. 

Hebr-env ^^ appears, that the word Carthago or Cartaco itfclf was 

PAaniciatif of Hebrew or Phoenician extraction. As therefore an affi- 
andPuuie nity of proper names implies an affinity of the languages to 
Proper which they belong, the following (liort catalogue of Hebrew 
uearh the °^ Phoenician and Punic proper names will not a little coA- 
fame. tribute to confirm the fentiment, which we, in common, 

with fo many others, have efpoufed : 

Hebrew or Phcenician. Punic. 



Zachseus. 


Sichaeus. 


Michaeas. 


Machaeus. 


Amalec* 


C Amilco, or 
1 Himilco. 


Melchior. 


Amilcar* 


Jefche, or 


Gifgo, or 


Jcffc. 


KJcfco. 

• 



w Valer. Max. lib. ii. & Hendr. ubi fupra. ^ Scalig. ad 

Ubert. p. 36s. Seld. de Diis Syr. Synt* ii. cap. 6. 

Hionony 



The H^ory of the Carthagtnimu 

Punk* 

9 

Hannb« 



457 



Hebrew or'Phomlcian* 

Hinnon, or 

Hanuni or 

Hanon. 

Hannabaaly or 

Baal-Hanan. 

Ezra, or 

Ezdras-BaaL 

fiarac. 

Elizabeth* . 

Milca. 

Magog. 

Meffiah. 

Adoni. 






^ HannibaL 

I: Afdrubal^ 

fiarca* 

Elifa* ^ 

Iixiilce* 

Mago. 

MefTe. 

DonL 



Some of tbefe names we have been fupplied with by Rei* 
ncccius ^ ; but the following we remember not to have feeti 
compared by any author whatever : 



Hebrew or Phoenician* 

Anna, or 
, Hannah. 

Jachin, or 

Jecon-Jah. 

Adar, or 

Ader-BaaL 

Baal. 
. Mathan, or 

' Matham-BaaL 
. Mehir, or 

Mahir^Baal. 

Saph, 

Saphai, 

JSapham# 



Punic* 

Anna. 

JachoA, 

Adherba!« 

Bah 

Mathumbah 

MaherbaL 



' Sappho< 



Saphan^ or 
Saphon. 

ThcPiinic tongue hadlikewife a'tinQur^ofthc Chaldee Pttud 
and SyrijlcV a^ we.karn from Prifcian artd St. Auftin ; but tongue 
this IS chiefly to bri tiiider^bdd of it in tb6 latter ages, wheli tinged with 
it was ^n Its 'decline, p^rtidnlarly tlibfe that immeaiatcly /^'^*^(*' 
pitccdcd'St: Aujftfn, or^vcn that in which he lived. ' "^^ *'''''''• 

M. Mams, profeflbi' of the Greek and Oriental'langu^ges 
J&ti|eJ;«dovician uaive^jF.'of Gic&n, *publiihed a fmall 
pieces jni«he year 1718, wherein he prores, that the. prefent 

^ Keineccii Hift. Jul in.Bff)^ Carth* vaL iii#*4^4i:i^* 9«ln>* S595« 
^01.. XV. S language 



£58 tJn H^^ of the Carihdginums^ 

Somi r#- language of (he Maltefe contains a great portion of the old 
mains of it Punic in it. The materials of which this trad conGfts, he 
u hi found ^gg fupplied with by father James Stanifltns John Baptift 
^KthUit^ Ribier de Gattis, a miffionary Jefuit, and native of Malta, 
ufi Ian" ^^^ ^^T '^^^^ underftood the language of the Maltefe, 
guagi. having refided many years among them. The treatife is 
very curious, containing proofs that this iOand was, for a 
confiderable period of time, fubje£i: to the Carthaginians ; 
and that the Punic tongue wa^ planted, and for a long time 
continued in it. Here is likewife a large coIleAion of Mal- 
tefe words more remote from the Arabic than from the 
Phoenician, Chaldee, or Syriac. 

Joannes Quinttnus Heduus, an author who lived in Malta 
about the middle of the (ixteenth century, was of the fame 
opinion* This writer afiirmed, that the ifland of Malta was. 
formerly fubjedt to the Carthaginians ; that the African^' 
i. e. Punic tongue, was fpoken there in his time ; that there 
• were then extant fome pillars in the ifland, which liad Pu- 
nic infcriptions upon them ; and that the Punic words to 
be found in Plautus and Aviccnna, were perfe£Uy under- 
ftood by the Maltefe % is an argument^ that the old Punic 
tongue was not even then much corrupted. All which is 
confirmed by Fazellus* in his curious hiftory of Sicily. 

According to father Ribier deGattisS the Maltefe have 
the following remarkable proverb amongft them at this day: 
'^ II ftus iffitiech peft; tnei attleh, U iehdoc inkella ; L e. 
the plague wants a piece of money ; gi^ it two, if it will 
withdraw itfelf from you ;*' which very proverb was a Pu- 
nic one in St. Auftin's days, as he himfdf aflTures us. 

Upon the whole, it appears, that the ancient Punic lan- 
guage approached nearer the Hebrew and Phoenician than 
the Arabic ; though, perhaps, it was not remote from the 
latter of thefe languages* Poftellus, Schindier, and Dm- 
Cus, who endeavour to fupport the former notion, muit 
therefore give way to fielden, Scalieer, Bochart, Reinefiost 
and others, who, witti invincible torce of reaibning^ have 
eftablifhed the other opinion. 
Punu let* The Funic letters, as well as ]2mguage» at firft muft ctt" 
urs origin tainly have been the Phiaenidan, for the reafon above 
•w^ '^ affigned. And though tbey were confideraUy altered by 
t^^a^" length of time, yet it is certain they always retained a great 
f\^^^ fimilitudc to th^r origiAals, s^s will appear from a nice la* 

-^Aion intp the cbara6)ers upon the moft jelegant Pheeni- 

« Joaniies Qaititti^ui iMwii In B|fiiia4 S^h. • Tte; 9mL 
de Reh. S^:Afi.9a«l^fiib&nit«iaTlw&«r.iAiiti^J^liift»:$««^^^ 
iv. Lugd. Bat. 17*3. b p. Stanitt. Jac. Joan. Bapt. Ribier dfe 

Gattif apm) Jb&nrlfettr. fvlat«m, iibt lk|M&» 



7he Hiftiny of tht Qirthaghimt. %$f 

cidn and Punic coins. The cliara£ier however upon the 
Punic coins is various^ many of thofe found in Spaint ai 
well as Sicily, having letters entirely rude and barbarous^ 
whilft the better fort exhibit a charaf^r refembling th^ 
Phoenician, and even the Afiyrian or Hebrew letters* 

The Phoenicians defcribed their God$ as carrying large 
bags or facks full of money; becaufe gold among them wa^ 
the emblem of power, and fymbol of dominion. Perhaps 
the Carthaginians reprefented theirs in the fame manner^ 
which, together with the great quantities of treafure conti- 
nually rolling into their coffers, and the great variety of 
the moft precious commodities brought from all parts of 
the world in their fliips, might occaGon that infatiable ava^ 
rice they were fo remarkable for. 

Several other cuftoms might be mentioned ; but as they 
may be more properly referred to the manners and difpo« 
fition of the Carthaginians in general, we fhall comprife 
them all in the following ihort charafler of that people. 

They were entirely intent upon ams^ffing wealth, being CharaBit 
mean-fpirited, groveling, and fordid, to an incredible de- rf thtCar* 
grce^ Thismuft 4>e underftood of the Carthaginians in ^^H'^^^ 
the later periods, and towards the decline of their ftate ; for ^ 

it is not to be queflioned but that they were of a better turn 
of mind in the earlieft ages, and that, even to the laft^ they 
had many generous and heroic, fouls amongft them. la 
(hort, we find fuch a contraft of good and bad qualities ia 
this people, that it is almoft impoffib]e to determine which 
of them were predominant. It muft only be obferved, that 
the nearer we approach the deftru&ion of their city, the 
worfe we find them. However, as the charaders of the 
Carthaginians come handed down to us chiefly from the 
Romans, their implacable enemies, we muft not pay too 
implicit a regard to them. The Romans took care to de« 
ftroy, not only the Punic archives, which, by the way, 
fliews, that they ought to be reckoned amongft thofe nations 
where bar'barifm prevailed, but almoft every thing the Pu^ 
nic writers had produced, that had any appearance of lite* 
rature, or true hiftory. 

Pfilybius makes it his complaint, that both Philinus tnd 
Vabios Pi&or, the Carthaginian and Roman hiftorians. 
Were fo partial in their relations, that no great credit could 
be given (o either of them. Of the Carthaginian perfidi*- 
oufnefs and ingratitude, hiftory fupplies us with abundant 
proof, which will hereafter be produced. According to 

^«Polybel]b;u Piod.$ic. Iib.ii. App. |n J^ybio. Vid« etisn 

Frontin. & V^et« 

Sa Pitt- 



i66 



Comm4reif 
the army, 
and tkt 
marine 
chiefly re- 
garded at 
Cartilage, 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians. . 

Plutarch *, the people of this country were of a morofe, (a- 
turnine, and favagc difpofition, utterly averfe to every thing 
that had the lead appearance of wit or raillery. Some of 
them were likewife a£l:uated by an intolerable fpirit of arro- 
gance, and moft vicious ambition, by which they were 
prompted to defire divine honours. Of this pride Hanno 
affords us a flagrant inftance % who, as we are told by JSt^ 
lian, taught birds to repeat, ** Hanno is a god 5" though this 
did not anfwer his end, fince, after their flight from him, 
they returned to their former notes again (E). 

Commerce, the army^ and the marine were the principal, 
if not fole objcfts of public attention at Carthage. Thefe 
fo entirely engrofied the minds of the people, that they had 
no mclination to purfue, nor indeed any great tafte for the 
liberal artsaiid fciences. However, they mufl have khown 
fomething at lead of the rudiments of aftronomy^ fmce, 
without this, they could not have been tolerably verfed in 
the art of navigation. Befides, the Edomites and Phoeni- 
cians were famous for being the greateft adepts, with the 



• ^ Plut. in Prac. de Gcr. Rep. cap^ 5, 
xiv. €»p« 30. 



c JEli&n. Var. Hift. lib. 



(Ej The Carthaginians were 

extremely addided to corrup; 

lion, to which their conftitutlon 

itfelf had a natural tendency, 

iA Ariflotle (1) has juftly ob- 

fcrved. Thfcir chiefs frequently ' 

mnde ufe of this with fuccefs, 

wheti all orkef expedients failed 

them. The Barchine hi(^lbn 

fupported themfelves a long 

time by. the venauty of their 

fellow-citizens, and others after 

them purfued the fame method 

ofafting,' whidh ended in the 

total ruin of the commonwealth. 

In 'confequence of this mean 

difpofition, in profperity they 

ircte^lev^tetit^to a phcH incon- 

fiflent yiix\\ tbe maxima of prq* 

deDc.e^ ^d moderation, apd in 

adv«i[(ity - ^b- . m.vph chepreifed. 

Of this we ifaall meet with va- 

nous examples hereafter (2). 

"' At their wccldings they enter- 



tained their friends with the 
tunny-fifh ; another remarkable 
CO {lorn that deferv^ mention- 

' The Carthaginians paid the 
greateft deference to their no- 
bility., who held a moil diftin- 
gmihed rank amongft tkem. 
Some perfons were deputed no- 
bles, or at leaft upon a level 
with them, on account of their 
riches ; for Ariilotle intimates, 
that wealth had a great influ- 
ence at Carthage, as well as 
nobility of birth ; and that great 
regard was had to both in filU 
ing the high pofts of the ftatc, 
when vacant. Others received 
the title of nobles, as a mark 6i 
diitind^ion dl)c^ for their fqperioV 
virtue and merit. A^d, lailly, 
others derived their nobility 
from a long train of noble an- 
ccflors.. ' ' * 



"" (1) Ariffot. dt ftepub. uW fopra. (2) Vide Liv. Poiyb. Juft. 

Corn. Ncp. Plut. Orof. plurimofque 4lios Riftoricp^. 

Egyptians, 



^e Hifto^y ^ ^^< CarihaghiafiSx ^ 261 

' Egyptians, in the celeflial fciences, of all other nati<5ns. 
Tlie Carthaginians therefore, their defcendants, could not 
not have been void of a competent knowlege* herein. That 
they had foipe notion likewifc of fculpture and painting, 
though the degree of perfeSion they arrived at in them we 
cannot pretend to afcertain, . is plain from the Dii Pataeci 
they carried nlong with them in theii* voyagesi ^& likewife 
from thepidures with which their (hips of waT, tSipd othqf 
vefTels, 'were adorned. As a feafaring and n^rcantile pcor 
pie are always ingenious iti contriving a variety of commor 
dities' to fupply the neceiEties or luxury of other nations, it . ;, 

is alfo probable that th^y were very well acquainted with 
the inferior mechanical arts. The Sidonians and Tyrians 
were certainly celebrated above other nations for their me- 
chanical fkill in tery early ages, as we learn from Scripture ) 
confi^quently the Carthaginians, one branch of- their p(>(le* 
rity, muft have been fo likewifc. But the-fuperb temples^ 
magnificent palaces* rich furniture in their houfes, great 
variety of arms, &c. in Carthage, put this point beyond di^r 
pute (F). , . ' 

After what has been faid, pur readers wiH not ^xpefl: to Few per* 
meet with many perfons of i^rudition amongft thp Carthagi- fins if ,♦. 
nians, though, without doubt, ,they hud ip^re. than their ^<»"»'»| 
cneuiicis . allow. The I^ofnans made gfC^t haVQck both'^^J!"|^^^ 
amongtl their public and, private writings, iind.tUis from % nians. 
principle of envy and onalLce. However, thetnames of fot^e 
of their writers have been trap fipitted to poftcrity, the prin- 
cipal of which are the foHawing. ., . , 

Hannibal, the moft renowned general Carthage ever pro- Carthagi- 
duced, was well verfed in the Greek language^ According ^'^* ^^** 
to Cornelius Nepos and Plutarch, he wrote feyeral pieces, tiannibed. 
in it, particularly the hiftory of Manlius Vulfo*^ p.roconful- 
ihip in Afia ^ 

* Corn. N^p. in Hannib. Pliit. in Scip, 

(E) So fatfidus was Carthage elfeemed the moll neat and ele- 

foT its artificers, that any iiii- gant for their workmanfhip by 

gukr invention, or exqailhe that people. This fsan undeni* 

{Aece of workmanlhip, was calU able proof that the Carthagl*' 

ed, even by the Romana, their nians had not only good mecha- 

implacable enemies, Punic. . nical heads and hands, but like-' 

Thu^thePuBic beds or couches^, ,wife excelled all other nations, , 

the Punic windows, the Punic their original anceftors except- 

winepreiTes, the Punic Ian- ed, in every thing of that 

terns, dec- were of all others kiad(i)* 

(0 Valen Max. Cato de Rfc Ruft. Ovid. el. vi. Plaut. Aalul. 

S3 Maga 



ftCt 

iUgtt 



1 

The H0ofy of the Carthaginians. 



Mago, another celebrated general of the Carthaginians^ 
acquired as much glory to his country by his writings, as his 
military atchievements. He ^rote twenty-eight volumes 
upon hufbandry, which the Roman fenate held in fuch 
efteem^ that, after the taking of Carthage, when they pre^ 
fented the African princes with the libraries founded there, 
they ordered thefe books to be tranilated into Latin, though 
Cato had before written copiotifly on that fubje£l. The li- 
braries above mentioned are a farther proof that learning 
was not entirely baniOied Carthage <• 
fUUmu. Philiniiiythough a Sicilian, born at Agrigentum, is efteem- 
ed by Polybius as a Carthaginian hiftorian. He wrote a hif- 
tory of the wars betwixt the Romans and the ftate of Car- 
thage ; but difguifed fafts fo palpably in favour of the latter, 
that, were his performance ftill extant, it would not be 
held in any great repute, efpecially after the ftigma Poly- 
bius has fixed «ipon it. Fabius Pi£tor, though a good hif- 
torian, yet in moft points relating to the Carthaginians, was 
giiilty of as great partiality on the Roman fide. This we 
Icam from Polybius, who, in order to arrive at truth, has 
ftee/ed the middle courfe betwixt them both **. 
1Bmk9. Himilco) a fea-officer, was fent by the fenate of Car- 
thage to difcover the weftern fliores and ports of Europe^ 
This tafk he performed, and wtote a journal of his voyage, 
together with an account of his difcoveries, which were in- 
ferted in thfc Punic annals. Feftus Avicnus * has followed 
this atlthor in his defcription of the weftern coafts of the 
world ; and intimates that he faw the original journal itfclf 
in thofe annals. And it appears from Feftus, that the 
Carthaginians were acquainted with the Britannic iflands, 
which he calk Oeftrymnides. 
HaMH9^ Hanno, . aiiother Carthaginian general, by order, of the 

fenate, failed with a confiderable fleet ^ round Africa. He 
entered the ocean by the Streights of Gibraltar, made many 
important difcoveries, and would have continued his navi- 
gation if provifions had not /ailed him. He wrote a rela- 
tion of bis voyage, an extra£l from^ or rather a fraement 
of a Greek verfion of which, is ftill remaining. He is faid 
to have bung up tfi the temple of Juno fome fkins of fevera! 
Akvage women, whom he ordered to be flayed. Haac Vrf- 
fitts, in oppoiition to his father^ fupjpofes him to have been 
^ older than either Homer or Hefibd } but Mr. DodweU for 



% Cic. Hb. i. de Orat not. S4.9. Plin. lib, kviif. cap. 3. 
lib. i. I Feftut Avienus in Or. Marit; p. loo. Vidl^ 



ii Polyb. 
p. 190. vioe & Bocfaart. 
Chan, lib, i, cap. 35, 3 a, ^c. t Plin. lib. ii. cap. 67. & lib. v. 

cap. I, Athen, Deipnoiopb. lib, iii.p.'Sj. Poinp* MeL lib* iij»cap*9. 
p. 63. edit. Ifaaci Voflli. Vo^*. de Hiftor. Qrsc. p. cia. 

lidljr 



7h€ K^(ny cf the CarthagintaHH 9% 

lidly and learnedljr xefutcs this notion. If Pliny is to be 
credited, Hanno and Himiloo above mentioned were con- 
temporaries. It is certain there were two Cartbagtntan ge- 
nerails of thefe names in the time of Agathocks. Whilft 
Hinuico fleered towards the weft, in order to difcover new 
countries, Hanno took his courfe from Gades or Cadiz to 
the fartheft parts of Arabia* Mr. Dodwell thinks, that the 
piece now known by the name of Hanno^s Periplss^ is not . 
his, bat was written by a Sicilian Greek. However, it can- 
not be denied that he penned a relation of his voyage, fince 
this is often quoted by the ancients. This learned gentle- 
man has, with the greateft appearance of truth, fixed his 
time fome where betwixt the ninety-fecond and the hundred 
and t«reaty»ninth Olympiad ^ 

Silenus was anhiftorianj^ who wrote concerning the Czt* SiUniu* 
tlu^nian afiairs in the Greek language \ from whence it 
fboold appear that he was a Greek. Some authors fuppofe 
him to have been the fame with Pbilinus above mentioned ; 
Imt pf this we have no fufficient proof, and therefore we 
muft confider them as two diftin^ writers'*. 

Clilomachtts, called in the Punic language Afdrubal, was CHtoma^ 
a great philofopher. . He fuceeeded the famous Carneades, ^^i*'* 
wbofie difciple he had been, and maintained in Athens the 
honour of the academic fe£l:. Cicero fays, that he was a 
more fenfible man, and fcmder of ftudy than the Carthagi- 
nians generally were. He compofed feveral books, in one 
of which he endeavoured to confole the unhappy citizens of 
Carthage, who, by the ruin of their city, were reduced to 
flavevy* By this it is manifeft, that he lived after the de- 
ftru£bion of that city by Scipio "• 

Now we are upon (he arts and learning of the Carthagi- Hamnt thg 
nians^ it will "not be foreign to our fubjcd to mention what /^ ^^^ 
Pliny tells us of Hanno; namely, that he was the firftman J^*"*^* 
who dared to touch, and could tame, a lion. The fame au- 
thor adds, that he was condemned, which muft either im- 
ply in it death or baniflimenty upon account of this art ; 
fince his countrymen could not be perfuaded, but' that he, 
who had the power of foftening the iierceft of beafts» muft 
likewifebe capable of influencing the minds of his fellow- 
citizens in fuch a manner, as to become mafter of their free- 
dom ^. This circumftance is related by Pliny, and it is 
either an argument of their extreme weaknefs, or his ex- 

1 Dod«r€L DliTert. de Peripl. HaRnon. setaL in Lim. Gtof^r. Vet. 
Script. Gr«c. Min. torn. i. efHit, Oxon. i6qS. ]\)ftin.1ib. xxli. &c. 
■ Cic 4c Diviivitat. lib. J. " Plut. de Fort. Alex. p. 328, Diog. 

I^aert. in CUtom. ** Pllrt. ubi fap. P. Harduin* apufii Bayl. voc. 

Uanno, vol. iii. p. 1597. not. (D},Lond« 1710. 

S 4 treme 



a 64 ^^ Hifiory 6f the Carthagmims^ 

treme credoltty. Some believe this perfon to-faa^e. been the 
writer Hanno above mendoned. 
^ki Car- Amongft other inventions this nation was famous for» we 
thaginiaHS muft not forget that of the quadriremes, or four-oaied gat- 
iMventors jjcg^ which the ancients attributed to the Carthaginians. 
dr^e^s^ It is likewife probable, that they were the firft who made 
cables for large veflels of the ihrub fpartum, which was a 
fort of broom ; at lead that they were the .firft who commu- 
nicated this invention to the Romans. But this particular 
more properly belongs to the navigation and trade of the 
Carthaginians, of which we (hall now endeavour to give 
our readers a fuccin£^ idea p. 
ni iradi With regard to trade and .navigation, no nation was ever 
^Mdna^i" more famous for thcfe, nor enjoyed them in a brger extent, 
^h^^cf" ^^*" ^^^^ *^* ^^^ Mediterranean, and all the ports in it, 
thagiaianSf ^^1 ^^^^ pcrfcftly acquainted with. In the eafterh parts 
they puihed their difcovcries and commerce as far as any na- 
tion whatfoever, and to the weftward, in all probability, far- 
ther, Britain and the Canaries were known to them ; and» 
according to fome, America itfelf ; but this feems to be a 
conjeflure without fufficient foundation. The formidable 
fleets they fitted out on many occafions, the vaft quantity of 
(hipping they kept in continual employ, the honour they had, 
for a Ibng period of time, of being almoft univerfaily ac- 
knowleged mafters of the fea, are moft glaring proofs of the 
flourifliing condition of their trade and navigation. From 
their Tyrian progenitors they inherited their genius for com^ 
merce: but in procefs of time they eclipfed the glory of 
their anceftors themfelves ; infomuch that Fliny derives the 
origin of trade, not from the FhfOenicianS) but the Pcenior 
Carthaginians. The natural fertility of its foil, the furprif- 
ing ikill of its ^rtificera, together with its happy fituation, 
rendered Carthage the centre of traffick, the great mart^ 
not only of the Mediterranean, but even of the moft remote 
Rations ^. 
fhnre^m- The commodities they fppplied other countries with in 
moditt$$j^ great abundance, feem to have been corn and fruits of all 
kinds; divers forts of provifions, and high fauces ; wax, 
honey, oil, and the fkins of wild beafts, all the natural pro** 
duce of their own territories. Their fta^le matiufa&ures 

p Arid. lib. xxi. Folyb* lib. i. CseL Calcaginut de Re NaQtia 
Comment, cap. i. Xenoph. de Re Venator. q Feft'. Avien. obi 

fup. Pofid. & Arift< de Mem. Claud, lib. iii. Strab. Apolloo. Philoft. 
lib. ii. cap. 14. I. 5. Pindar, iic. Cbrift. Hendr. Carth lib. H.fed.i« 
pap. 8. p. 262, 263, ^c. Herodot. lib. i. Thocj^did. lib. it Cub init, 
piin.Nat. Hift. lib. vii. cap. 56. Liv. Polyb, Diodor. Si^aK Juftia, 
prof, aliic^ue palf. 



The Hjffory of the Cartin^nlans. 265 

were utcnfils,'toys, cables, allkinis "of *naval ftores,' iatid 
the colour from them called Ptitiici the preparation of 
which feems to have been peculiar tQ theml From E^ypt 
they. brought fine fiax: and paper: &om^tbe coafts of < the 
Red Sea, fpices, frankincenfC) perfumes, gold, pearls,' aifid 
precious ftones* From Tyre ;ind Phoenicia, purple, fcarkt, 
rich ftuflFs, tapcftry,' and coftly furnittfre.' From thfe wcf- 
tern parts of the world, • in recurn i6r the commoditks c%t^ 
ried thither, they imported iron, tin, ledd, and copper.' In 
fine, they purchafed the fuperflaities of all nations at ati 
eafy price; and« by knowing the neceflkies of them all, and 
the particular branch of trade adapted to each of them, they 
fold thefe at their own rates ; a traffick which brought im- 
menfe treafures dgily to Carthage, rendered this republic 
formidable to her neighbours^ and enabled her to corffeiid 
with Rome for the empire of the world 'i ' • » - 

Having thus given our readers a general idea of the ez« ^h$m»f 
tenfive trade this republic was miftrefs of, we muft now beg 'valuable 
leave to remark, that nobrancb of their commerce feems to *f^.*^«^ 
have been more ben^ficiial to the Carthaginians than that fnirctfti^ 
they carried on with the Perfians, GaramanjteSy and Etbio- cifi9d^ 
pians. Thefe remote nations* befides other rich commodi- 
ties, brought with them carbuncles, of alrnoft ineftimabjc 
value, to Cartilage ; to which place they' yearly refort^din 
caravans. Thefe^gtms, from the plenty of them at Cart 
thagc, were called by the ancient^'Charchedonian or Car- " 
thagiiiian, as Pliny relates. Froih' Polybius it appears pro^ 
bable^ that the Carthagitiian merchat^tis, at the fale of. their 
wares, had proper officers to attend them. No profeffioa 
was reckoned more honourable than thit of the merchant in 
the dominions of this (late ; a circumdance not to be won* 
dered at, confideringthe advantage accruing from thence, to 
all orders and degrees of men •. 

We (hall clbfe this fe&ion with taking notice of a remark- 
able cuftom obfqrved ,by the Carthaginians, and the Liby- 
ans bordering on the fea-coafts, in their traffick with each 
otlic^, as Herodotus has related it ^. I ■ . , r 

" The Carthaginiaiis failing beyond the Streiffhts, or PiU 
Urs of Hercules, traded with the Libyans of (hofe parts in 
the following mariner : after they had run into feme crcek^ 
they landed their' goods ; and, leaving ^h^m expofe^l gn a 

' Chrift. Hendr. ubi fupra. Plin. lib. xxxi. cap. S. Athen. Dejp- 
Aofbph. lib. ii. Hadr. Tun; Animadv. lib. vi; tap. 17. Catellianus 
l^tta in Memorab. Akx«i Vanegu* libtir. cap* ». & Menafleb 
^Q Ifrael en Efper. de Ifr. p. 18,199 &c. £n Amfterdam, en la 
In^preflion de Semuel B«b Ifrael Soeiro, K^fL 5410. • PHn. 

Hit* liift. lil>. s^xxviii, cap. 7. Polyb. lib* iii> < Herodot lib. iv. 

point 



jt66 Th0 Hifimy rf tie Cartiaginhfih 

point of land, retomed en board their Ibips. Thev then 
caufed a great fmoke to be raifed» at figbt of which the Li- 
byans came to the place where the wares had been left ; 
andt laying down a quantity of golds retired at a good di£* 
tance from them* The Carthaginians went on Ihore a fe« 
cond time; and if the gold appeared to them fnfficient^thej 
carried it oflF, and failed without delay *, if not, they conti-* 
Bued quiet on board for fome time* The Libyans, finding 
them not yet fatisfiedi made an addition to what they had 
before depofited i and, if this proved infufficicnty they oon* 
tinned encreafing the quantity of gold, till the Carthaginians 
were fatisfied, and the bargain made. Neither of ihefe na* 
tions offered the leaft injuftice to the other. The Cartha«> 
ginians did not touch the Libyan gold till it was of equal 
value with their wares ; nor did the Libyans meddle with 
the Carthaginian merchandize, till the^gold they offered as 
an equivalent was accepted^ and taken away*" 

S E C T. I V. 

fbe Chronology of the Carihagtnians. 

Carthi^i^ ^T^HE Carthaginian chronology was at firft the fame as the 
nianckro' ';^ Phoenician} and, in all probabilitj, ever afterwards, as 
»fl^ tfu fo its form and manner, agreed with it. That the Cartha- 
'(t7pliMi'> ginians kept records in the fame manner as their anceftors 
otMi-^ theTyrians did, cannot be doubted, when we conCder how 
dofely they adhered to the cuftoms and maxims of thofc 
anceftors. Sir Ifaac Newton imagines, that,the artificial 
chronologyof Eratofthenes did not abfolutely prevail amongft 
the Romans even in the Auguftan age» but thinks that Vir- 
gil might have taken fome of his biftorical fa£ts from the 
records of Carthage \ which evidently fuppofes, that thefc 
records then exifted. Servius inGnuates, that they, or at 
leaft fome part of them, exifted when he Wrote ; for he 
tells us, that, according to the Carthaginians, Dido came 
from a town called Charta. However, it is certain, from 
SoKnus and others, that annals, and an. epoch, at the de** 
ftruf^ion of their city, the Carthaginians muft have bad ; 
otherwife the Romans could never have known how nuny 
years had elapfed from the foundation to the deftru£Uoii of 
that metropolis, as we find they did "* 

The method of computing time from the building of cities 
was in ufe through part of the Eaft in very early ages, thetegh 

. n Newton*8 Cbroaok p,(j, $^, j^e. Senr* in Mn. i. ieMnAr* 
SoliA. cap. A^. . . ^ 



th PhctHt 



The Hiftmy of ibg Carthaginians. 26 j 

It teas of a later date at Rome ) particolarly amongft the tiy* ' 
dians, Syrians, and Phoenicians, as it was amon^ their de« 
feendents the old Etmfcans and Carthaginians. This is Evi- 
dent beyond contradi£lion from Diddoras Siculus, Cenfori- 
nttty Scaliger, and afamoas infcription, whofe epoch is thft 
feondation of Interamna in Umbria, which Grutef^ and Jii£- 
tus Fontaninus, in his Antiquities of Hdrta, have given us^. 
The ancient year of the Phoenicians, as well as that of the 
<yther eaftem nations, was certainly lunl-folar; i. e» it con- Thir ye^ 
filled of twdve lunar months, cdntaining thirty days 6ach, hni-JnUar^ 
with intercalary months to fupply what the twelve lunar 
months wanted of the folar year. At length the Egyptians 
of Thebes, according to Diodorus and Strabo, introduced 
the folar year ; i. e. they added five days annually to the 
tweWe lunar months, in order to make them agree with the 
courfe of the fun. Now, as the coitiputation by folaf years 
did not take place even in Egypt till the time of Ameno- 
phis (though the difference betwixt the folar and calendar 

E»rs was wcovered in the reign of Ammon, the father of 
fac)» i. e. about a hundred and chirty-feven years before 
the aera of Nabonaflar ; nor amongft the Ghaldseans or Ba- / 

bylonians till the commencement of that xra; and, as 
Dido's departure from Tyre was at leaft coeval with, if it dU 
hot j^reoede, the former of thefe events, the luni-folar year 
1^S| without difpute, obferved by the Pboetiicians, and 
afterwards by* the. Carthaginians. 

Simplicius, in his, commentary on the firft of Ariftotle's asn»a$ 
^Hyfical acroaGs, affirips the Damafcenes and Arabians, who that tf the 
Vftrt either neighbours to the poftcrity of the old iPhoeni- Arabians 
^latis, or intermixed with them, had tne luni-folar year in ^'^^ ^^* 
^fe amonsft them fo late as his time. From whence it Is «*^^«- 
tHM a little probable, that this was always the Phoenician 
dfld Carthaginian year *. 

Appian tells us in round numbers, that Carthage ftood MiMondtr 
ftvcnnundred years; but Solinus, with greater accuracy^ Ephifius^ > 
determines itis duration to have been feven hundred anq ^'^Vj*'* 
thil'ty-feven years, i. e. either fo many complete years pre- f^^^"'* 
rifely, or fo many complete years, with part 0/ another ami Sir * 
riapftd, which was not reckoned in the computation. Now Ifaae 
ifj with Sir Ifaac Newton and Salmafius, we fuppofe this ^^^^om, 
fctto to have commenced at the encoenia, or dedication of JT"'' *" ^ 
the citv, which they have proved fell upon the fixteenth Carthae^ 
y^ of Pygmalion's reign at Tyre, the beginning of the 

"^Diod. Sic. lib. v. cap. i. Cenforin.de Die Natal, cap* 17. Scaligi 
^£mend..Temp. lib. v. p* sSf. Gniter. cxiii. s. Jim. Fontanin. 
«^ Antiquit. Hort. lib. 1. cap. 7. p. 135, 136, cd» Bom. if%%* 
' Sunplic. apud Tbeodon Gaaam de Menfibui* 



%69 The Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 

foundation of Carthage muft be placed nine ye^rs higher} 
fince Dido caipe to A^ica in the fevetith year of that prince's 
reign \ and confeauently this happened leven hundred ^n4 
forty-fix years bek^re the final deftru£tion of that city by 
j£milianus. Since therefore Jofephus, from Menander 
Ephefius, oxy accorcling to Tatian, Menander of Fergamus, 
intimates^ that Carthage preceded Rome a hundred* and 
forty years, a computation which almolt exatily correfponds 
with Sir Ifaac Newton and Salmafius; and fince the aera of 
Petavius does not differ from that of iSoltnus, as ftated by 
the two great men . above mentioxic4» above two years, a 
trifle in a point of fo remote antiquity, we may confide^ 
thefe ^eras as the fame. This is a (Irong prefunription, tha^ 
both of them approach very near the tryth ; and therefore 
we may afiure our readers, that they cannot greatly err, 
choofe which of them they pleafe ^. 

S E C T. V. -'■ 

^he Hiftory of the Carthaginians ^ front the Foundation cf 

their City to thefirfi Punic War. 

EUfa*s p^ LIS A, known alfo by the name of Dido, 'fled from Tyre 
defarturt in the feventh year of the; reign of Fygipdipn, Iqj^g of 

fr§m%jfri, that city. Her flight is faid to have b^en occafioned by the 
cruel and infatiable avarice of Pygmalion, who washer bror 
ther. This prince, to f/^cure to himfelf the immenfe trca- 
fures of his uncle Sichseus, who had married his fitter DidO) 
was the pried of Hercules, and, by virt^ue pifjthat poft, the 
. fecoiid in the kingdom, found means to dcftroy him. The 
. manner in which this was efFeded is 4ifferenrly related; 
Virgil fays, that Pygmalion barbaroufly ipurdered his unck 
at the altar ; but Euftathius and Cedrenus intimate, that he 
difpatched him at a hunting-match, and th^p thr^owing him 
down a precipice^ reported, that the fall bad been the oe» 
cafion of his deatl?. However, as Sichaeus was well ac- 
quainted with the fordid and avaricious temper of his ne- 
phew, he had, by way of precaution, buried bis riches un*! 
* der-ground ; a circumftance which, with the prudent and 
artful conduft of Elifa, rendered the tyrant's defign abortive. 
Sichaeus, appearing to his widow in a dream, apprifed her 
of his tragical exit, and advifed her to, fly immediately, in 
order to avoid the fame fate. Thus warned, {he determined 

y Appian. in Lybic. Solin. cap. 30. Salmaf. in Solin. ibid. New- 
ton!t Cbronol. p. €5, U, &c. Jofcph. Antiq. lib. viii. cap. ». S* 
lib. ix. cap. 14. Dion. Pctav, de Doct. Temp. lib. ix^ csip. 60. Ti- 
tiao. adv. Grsp^, *^ 

to 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians* 269 

to make her efcape, and carry off thofe treafures which had 
prompted her brothet to fo' inhuman an a£lion : but (he 
judged it proper for fomc time to amufe him, by diflembling 
her refentment, and prcferving the appearance of an affec- 
tion for him, till an opportunity offered of affembling her 
friends, and concerting with them the proper meafures for 
fpeedily abandoning Tyre. The principal of thefe were her 
brother Barca, and feveral feriators, who, apprehending 
themfelves in danger of being facrificed by a prince who had' 
broken through all the ties of nature and humanity, en- 
gaged to follow htr at all adventures. To execute the de- 
fign (he had formed, (he applied to the' king for veffels to 
carry her, with Barca and their effefts, to Chartica, or - 
Chartaca, a maritime towi^ in his dominions, under the pre- 
text of refiding there. To this propofal Pygmalion readily 
agreed, imagining that, by ifuch a ;ftep, he flioyld become 
mailer of what had fo long been the obje<9i of his defires. 
Elifa, being thus fupplied with men and (hips, weighed an- 
chor, and fiood out to fea, where (he commanded her men 
to throw overboard fome bags filled with fand, which, (he . 
told them, contained the wealth of her hufband Sichaeus ; 
and then intreated his manes to accept of thofe riches as an 
oblation, which had been the caufe of his deftrudlion. Then 
addrefling herfelf to her companions, (he gave them to un- 
derftand, that there was nothing terrible they might not fear 
from the tyrant's refentment, for being inftrqmental in de- 
feating his avaricious purpofcs, if ever they fell into his 
liands : by which means having fixed them more firmly in 
her intereft, (he purfued her voyage, and got out of her 
brother's reach before he was ^pprifed of her refolution *. 

Pygmalion, finding all his hopes thus defeated by his PygmaUom 
Cftci's'fubtlety, and being grieved that thofe treafures (hould pnvtnttd 
befnatched'froiti him, which he had long enjoyed in ima- 7?**^/^" 
gination, gave orders to fit but a fleet with all poffible ex- J^^^^^"l^ 
pedition, in order to purfue the fugitives : but he was di- 
verted from this defigri by the intreaties of his mother, and 
the menaces of the infpired college of vates, who threatened 
him with the indignation of the gods, if lie offered to ob- 
(btttftj^'in any manner, the grand projeft Elifa was gone 
ijpon. 

• • .■ . > . ' Ik 1 

V^'Jaftin. lib. xvrii. .Tacit. Anna^. xvi. Tcrtul. in Pal. Sil. ItaU 
lib;i . Appiani in liK fub init. Eoftath. in Dionyf. Afr. ut ipfe 
W<injf., ^erodian, \^. v. I^y, lib. xxx^iy. V^K^Palt. lib, j. V'xxskV 
St»xi, I. & \yf\ Scrv. in Virg. ^n. i. & iv. 'Tbeophil. Antiocben. 
apijd Autolyc, lib.Jii. Tcrtul. Appl. Clem* Alex. Strom. Stral^o, 
Kb, xvii. Plin. lib. V. Artimian. Marcel. Plutarch. Hendr. dc; 
^cp.Caith. lib.i. fcft.i. cap. !• ' • 



•«i 



The 



370 The Htfiofy of tbi Qirthagimani. 

E&fa The firft place our heroine touched at was fome port la 

UMcAeJ the tfland of Cyprus^ polfibly Salamis^ which was then in 
^A ^' its infancy ; fince» according to Virgil and Servius^ in con- 
W''*'* jijiifiion with the Marbles, Tcucer^ and Mcttinus, Elifa's 
father fejzed upon Cyprus, or at lead a part of it, not very 
long before, when the former of thefe built Salamis. Here 
(he met with a prieft of Jupiter, who offered to attend her 
with his whole family, and partake of her future fortiine i 
an offer which (he readily accepted. As this motion of the 
prieft proceeded from an impuue» or rather command, of 
the deity, ihe looked upon it as a good omen, and fettled 
the priefthood of Jupiter in that family •. 
Cyprian It was a cuftom in this ifland, at the time of Elifa's ar- 

nvomn rival, for the maids to go, on certain days, before marriage, 
^^fK^ilves. ^^ ^^^ fea-fide, there to look for ftrangers on their coafts, in 
^ ' order to proftitute themfelves for gain, and thereby acquiie 
a dowry. From thefe the Tyrians ieleded a number, and 
carrying them on board, found them fubfervient to their 
defi^n of planting a new colony \ 
ERfa hnds From hence they proceeded for the coafts of Africa, v^ 
im 4frua. ijinded in the province called afterwards Africa Propria, pot 
far from Utica, a Phoenician city of great antiquity, already 
defcribed* The inhabitants received them with demonftra- 
tions of joy, and, defiring their continuance, advifed thenv 
to build a city upon that ipot to which the fates had coo* 
du£^ed them. 
CMvatis It was Elifa*s firft care, upon her arrival, to cultivate ^ 
^^7a/iding P°^^ underftanding with the natives, to which they were 
vfith tki ^y ^^ means, for a confiderable time, averfe; on account of 
mativis* the advantages they perceived would flow to them from an 
eftahliihed commerce and harmony betwixt the two nations. 
She then purchafed of them a trafi of land^ for her wea* 
rled Tyrians to fettle upon. Jufiin, A]^ian, Virgil, Eufta- 
thlus, and Thenoiftius, intimate, that the Phoenicians i^fi- 
pofed upon the Africans, when a bargain was made betwixt 
them, 4n the following manner : they deiired for their in- 
tended fettlement onlv fo much ground as an ox*s hide 
would encompafs. This requeft the Africans at firft laughed 
at ; but were furpriied when« upon their granting it, they 
{ound Elifa cut tne hide into fmall ftireds, and furround a 
large extent of territory, on which fiie built a citadel, from 
this^incideat calkdBjrrfa. The learned, however, imaHi- 
moufly agree in exploding this fable, which feems to 4>we 
i«s origin to the envy and malice of the Romans, or thera* 

* Vjrgi Mn, i. $erv* in Loc. Appllod. N«wtop^$ Cbronol. p. (5. 
^ Juftini ubi iupra» 

nitj 



/ 

The Hifiory tf tie CartheginioHSi 

Qity of the Greeks, who. affected to deduce every thing 
that favoured of high antiquity from their own nation or 
language, though never fq remote from them. Appiaa 
feems to iofinuate, that at firft Elifa met with oppofition 
from the natives i which may poffibly be true« fince it is ' 
certain an annual tribute for the ground the Tyris^ns pof« 
defied wa6> by their firft agreement with the Africans^ cx« 
a£ied from them, and paid for many years after ^. 

The neighbouring people, at firft invited by the profped EitAir 
of gain, and with this view repairing to the Phoenician feu MUs m 
tiement to fell thefc foreigners the neceflaries of life, in a ^"^ ^Jf 
ftiort time were incorporated amongft them. The number '^'» ^ 
of the Phoenicians being increafed by this acceffion, Eiifa ^H/Si!^^ 
followed the advice of the Utican ambaflador^* who were 
fent to congratulate her upon her arrival, in the name of 
their ftate -, and built a ntvr city, or at leaft much enlarged 
the old one, which could make no very confiderable figure 
before. As the natives of the country were of the lame 
fentiments with the Uticans in this particular, and gave the 
Tyrians all neceflary afliftance in building their city, and 
peopling it, Carthage foon became a place of great fame^ 
and made itfelf refpe&ed by all its neighbours. 

We are told by Juftin, that in digging for the founda- 
tions of the city, the workmen firft lound an ox's head^ 
which was indeed a fymbol of fertility of foil, but at the 
fame time prefajged continual toil, and perpetual fervitude^ 
to the city. Difcouragcd by this omen, they removed to 
another Ipot, where in digging they difcovered a horfe's Ahrfi't 
head, which they interpreted as a happier omen, portend-^ htadfotrnd 
ing the future martial genius of the inhabitants. Euftathius' ^ ^^f ^^ 
adds, that with the horfe's head they found a palm-tree, or fyjgj^ti^ 
at leaft ^ branch of palm, which they confidered, without of Car* 
doubt, as an emblem of vi^ory. This circumftance de* thagt* 
termined Elifa to fix upon that fpot for the fituation of her 
city \ and in allufion to this the Carthaginians had, ia after- 
ages, a horfe's head, or a horfe and a palm-tree^ fo fre« 
quently upon the reverfes of their coins ' (F). 

The 

« Jaftifi. lib. xviif. Virg«iEn«i. Eiiftath. in IKonyf* African. 
A|^pi«n. in lib. fub. Init. Themilt. Orat. xxi* p. 2609 a^i- Serv. 
in ^n. 1. Liv. lib. xxxtv. Dion, in Perieg. Juftin. lib. xix. Sil. 
Ital. lib. i. Vide VoiT. Th. Gent. lib. i. cap. i%. < Jfidor. Hb.xv. 
cap k ft. & lib. ix. cap. ii. Cuftath. in Dionyi^ Afric. 

^ (F) Some of thefe cmns^ par« to any of the Greek or Roman, 
tlcularly of the SAvtx end gold They fire fbood in the kin^* 






ones, are of exquifit^ work-r doms of Tunis and Aleien, m 
Buiafliipi nothbg at all inferior thofe parts iBf Spain tSe Car* 

thaginians 



^'jt The Hyhry of the Carthaginianu 

Different The principal names of Carthage have already been gi« 
names •/ tcn in the firft Jjart of this hiftorjr : however, it may not 
Carthage, be irn(^oper'to remark, that the Carthaginians arc feme- 
times called SidoniahSy and their city Tyre, by ancient au- 
thors* It is like wife denominated by Stephanus, Oenufa or 
Oenufla \ by Euftathius, Cadmea \ and by Suidas, Apbrice. 
According to St. Jerom, the name TarQiifli in Scripture 
fometimes denotes Carthage ; and in one paifage this word 
ieems fo plainly to point at that city, that it is rendered by 
the Vulgate verfion Carthago •. 
Dido fought ' Every thing confpirinff with Elifa's views, the new city, 
t* mar- in a fliojt tiipe, grew weSthy and flourifhing ; which agrcc- 
y^^ able fituation tempted larbas, a neighbouring prince, to at- 
ueigkbomr- tempt making himfelf mafter of it without any effufion of 
img prince, blood. For this purpofe he delired, that an embafly of ten 
of the moft noble Carthaginians might be fent him ; which 
having obtained, he propofed to them a marriage. with 
Elifa, or Dido, (for that, in all probability, was the name 
fhe went by after her departure from her native country), 
threatening^ them with war in cafe of a refufal. The am- 
bafiadors, being afraid to deliver the meflage, told their fo- 
vereign with Punic fubtlety, that larbas deHred fome per- 
fon might be fent him, who was capable of civilizing his 
Africans ; but that there was no poffibility of finding any 
of her fubjedis, who Would leave his relations for the con- 
rerfation of fuch Barbarians. ^ Here being reprimanded by 
the queen, (he afked them, if they were not aihamed to re- 
fufe living in any manner, which might be beneficial to 
their country ? They then opened to her the king's com- 
^DiandSy adding, that according to her own.deciConof the 
point, (he ought to facrifice herfelf to her country's welfare. 
Being thus enfnared, (he called upon her hufband Sichaeus, 
' with tears, and at laft anfwered, that (he would go whither 
her own fate, and that of her city called her. In the mean 
time (hte caufed a pile to be ere&ed in the farthefl: part of 
the cioy ; and atthe expiration of three months, which tune 
(he required for the execution of her delign, killing many 
viAims, as though (he intended to facrifice to, and appeafe 
the m^nes of h^r firft hufband before her fecond marriage, 
flieafceaded it. Then looking all around her upon the 

• Virg. & Sii. Ital. paflT. Sal. dc Bell. j[ugurth. D. Augoft. dc 
Unit. Ecclef. Ezek. xxvj?. ti. T^eod. Hieron. Eufeb. in Chroii. 
Bocb. in Prsefat. Phal. ^ Chan. lib. i. 

4haginiatss firft pofleifedi and m Haym, and the cabinets of the 

Sicily.'* Numberiof theoKmay cuiious* 

be fecn- in iSldrete, faruta, "^^ - ♦ '- ' 

\ fpcfta* 



'I *r. 



Il?e Hifiory of the CarthagintanSk 27^ 

fpc£l:atdr8t iht told them, £he was going to her bufband, a8 
they had ordered her \ and imrtiediately, with a dagger fhe 
had Concealed for that purpofe, put a period to her days '* 

This is Juftin's account of the death of that priilcefaj Ju/lin mJ 
tyhich liven ar^fl fight appears difFerefit from Virgirs* Virgil dif" 
CedrenuSy ;^nd Sii^ Ifaao Newton favour Virgil's notion, ferintheif^ 
though they do not in all pdints agree with him. Th« for- ^^^^J* ^/ 
mer of thefe relates, that iEneas the Phrygiatl, after the ^^^;^ 
deftru£tion of Troy, came to Africa, and refided foitie time 
with Dido there ; but perceiving larbas^ king of the Nu«> 
midtans, the Mauritan^ans, the MafTytii or the Getulians, 
to take, umbrage at this, he thought propet to retire, ad 
dreading the efiec^s of his power and refentment. Thi^ 
pafTage of Cedrenus feems greatly to fupport Sir Ifaac New- 
ton's opinion, in relation to jEneas and Dido's being con* 
temporaries ; and likewife to evince a mod material point, 
oamely, that Virgil and Trbgus, whom Juftin epitomized, 
agree in their chronology. What Sir Ifaad Newtorvad*. . 
Tance3 concerning Dido's father, Mettinus, and Teucer's 
feizing upon Cyprus about the time of the Trojan war, ren- 
ders Virgil's chronology likewife more probable than the 
generality of learned men are willing to allow «. 

How long Dido reigned at Carthage we danrtot deter*. Didoes 
mine. What feems to be the beft fupported by ancient hif* chara^ttn 
tory is, that her brother Barca, and fitter Anna, attended 
her ixota Tyre to Africa 5 and that by their committing 
every thing to her management and direction, it (hould feem 
fce was a woman of an uncommon genius* This appears 
from the artful manner in which fhe impofed upon her bro- 
ther Pygmalion before her departure from Tyre, when, 
under the pretence of diverting her melancholy on account ' 

of her buiband's death, which, (he infinuated. Tyre could 
not fi^il of perpetuating, fhe had the addrefs to perfuade 
him that her intention really was to retire to, and refide at 
Chartaca. That fhe viras a lady of moft attraftive charms, 
as well as; a rare pattern of chaftity, is attefted by the beft 
Siuthors \ 

. HojRT long monarchical government prevailed at Carthage, ^ ^hfm h 
or what accidents befel this flate in its infancy, or ev^n '^f^'^^^y 
vhat tranfaftions it was concerned in for feveral ages, we Jj^^^ 
cannot inform our readers ; fince there is a chafm in the * ^ 

Carthaginian hiftory for above three hundred years after the 
tragical end of Dido. |In general, Juftin gives Us to under- 
ftand, that Carthage was much agitated by civil difTenfions, 

' Jdftin. ubi fupra. « Cedren. ubi fupra. Ntwton's Chro* . 

nol.|». 6s, 6$, &c. J» R^inec. Hift. Jul. tit. i, S>il. Ital. JutT* 

ubi fupra. 

Vol. XV. T and " 



%j^ The Hjftoty of the Carthaginians. 

and tiarfafled with the plague during part of this period. 
It likewife appears from Diodorus Siculus, and Polybiusi 
that this republic had got a ftrong footing in Sicily and Sas- 
^ dinia^ and made conGderable acquiGtions elfe where, in very 

* early times. Thucydides and Herodotus put it beyond dif- 
Carthagi pute, that it was formidable by fea in the time of Cyrus 
fohmdabbf and Cambyfes ; and that it muft have performed many cx- 
M / '* f P^^^'^ upon that element, even before the reigns of thofc 
Cyrus and puiflant monarchs. But thi-s circumftance is not to be won* 
Camlijfis. acred at, it being fcarce poflible for any nation endued with 
fuch a genius, and poflened of fo much power as the Car- 
thaginians were, in fome of the firft centuries of their ftate, 
to have long remained in a courfe of inaftion, either by 
land or fea. But almoft all thofe exploits are now buried 
in oblivion. Had the writings of Phiiiftius Syracufanus, 
Ephorus, Timseus Siculus, Aratus, Trogus Pompcius, the 
fixth, feventhi eighth, ninth, and tenth books of Diodorus 
Siculus, or any of the Punic hiftorians, been now extant, 
we might have received fufficient light from them in 'many 
material points relating to the firft ages of Carthage 1 but 
thefe have, for a long feries of ages, been no more. The 
Punic archives would alfo have informed us of many par- 
ticulars relating to the prefent hiftory, had they cxifted. 
But thefe the Roman virtue, generofity, grcatnefs of "foul, 
and love of truth, thought proper to deny pofterity, left 
they fliould have given their minds a wrong bias, sfpdbeen 
prejudicial to the caufe of truth. We are therefore obliged, 
though with great regret, to pals oVer the tranfaftions of 
the Carthaginian ftate during this chafm, as buried in ob- 
livion, and proceed to continufe this work from thofe pieces, 
apd fragments of antiquity that have been handed down to 
us. < 

We have hinted, that the Carthaginians were powerful 

by fea in the time of Cyrus and his fon Cambyfes, not to' 

^he Cat' fty much earlier. This truth appears from feveral confidera- 

' thaginians tions, particularly from a naval engagement that happened 

. and Ejruf- between the united fleets of the Carthaginians and Etrof-' 

J^Md ha ^^"s, and that of the Phocseans, a very confiderable mari- 

jeajightj time poWer, in Cyrus*s reign. The Phocaeans, indeed, 

bytht PA9' gained the vi£lory ; but their whole fleet was either funk or 

f^ans, difabled ; irifomuch that they durft iiot venture a fccbnd 

engagement, but abandoned the ifland of Cyrnus, now 

CorHca, to the Carthaginians and Etrufcans. The vi£tor$ 

retired to Rhegium, and foon after to Oenotria, nowiPonxa, 

a-iinall ifland in the Tyrrhenian or Etrufcan fea, oyci<*againA 

Velia in Lucania, which theif anceftors had firft peopled; 

and the Carthaginians^ with the Etrufcans^ too]^ quiet pof- 

feffioB 



The Hifiory ef the Carthaginians. 175 

feflidrt of Cymus* Herodotus and Thucydides take notice 
of this fea'-fight, as one of the mof! anci(jnt to be met with 
in hiftory* Trie combined fleet conHded of an hundred and 
twenty fail, and the Phocseah of (ixty. Accord irig to I'hu- ^ 
cydidcB, the Phocseans tuilt Maffilia, now Marfeillcs, fome 
time near this period *. 

Towards the conclufion of Cyrus's reign, or that of hts 
uncle Cyaxarcs the fecond, the Carthiaginians carried on a 
war with the neighbourifig African princqs, wherein thty 
obtained great advantag^sj; which, according to Juftin^ 
were chieffy owing to the conduft and bi^avery of ftieir ge- 
neral* Ma cbaeus. B6on after the conclufion of this war, qjiey re^ 
they ferit a great body of forces, with a powerful fleet, to duce pa^t 
Sicily, under the command of the general, who reduced a ol theijland 
confiderable part of that iiland tq their obedience : but, liot- ^ "^" 
withftanding the happy fituatipn of « their affairf abroacf, 
they were much agitated by civil difftnfidns at home, and 
affli£led with other evils, of ^w^hich the peftjlence, that then 
made 'dreadful havock at Carthage, feems to have been tlje 
tnoft terrible. This they attributed, to the anger of the god§, 
vhbm they endeavoured to appeafe with human facrifice$; 
and, in order to render them more propjtidus to their city, 
they fcrupled not to offer up their children oil this melan- 
choly occafion. This dctpftable praftite, fo contrary to the 
diftates of humanity, andall the tender impulfes of nature, - 
was fair from producing .thp defired effeft. Theif arms were 
attended afterwards with' ill fucccfs, though they had before 
been fo fortunate iri Sicity ; for, immediately after the c6n- 
clafioii cflF'the Sicilian war, trarifporting their forces into the 
ifland of Sardinia, they meditated ah' abfolute cpnqueft'of 
it ; but received ^ total defeat from the S'ardf, in which 
above half of their army was cut to pieces. Enraged at fo Banijb 
piany difafliers, they baniffied their ge;ieral Mach^etis, with their gem* 
the remainder of the army under his command. That cbm- ral Ma^ 
hiander, covered with glory and viftory before the Tail un- '^'^*'» 
nappy expedition to Sardinia., could not but. re{ent fuch un- 
grateful treathient, efpecially as, by his conduft'a'nd brave- 
ry> he had reduced a great part of the ifland of Sicily to:thc 
obedience of the Carthaginians, and jgreatly extenxied their 
frontiers in Africa : he therefore fent a remontftrance t6 
Carthage, in an amicable manner, begging the fenate not 
to impute to him, and the troops, the misfortunes that haA 
befallen them, but to permit them to return' home quietly \ 
^icVrequeft not being granted, he threatened to do him- 
fclf Juftice, But this threat making no imprefiion on the 



•« Herodot. Hb. !• Thucydi» lib J. ^b init. 

T 2 fenate^ 



, ^* 



2 ^6 ^he Hifioty of the Carthaginians. 

fena^tCy after waiting feme days for an anfwer, \\c embark* 

ed his army, and advanced with great expedition towards 

who hi'^ the city. When the troops bad invefted it, they appealed 

tlawt ' ^^ ^^^ 8°^* ^^^ ^^^ purity of their intentions, and declared, 
' that their defign was not to hurt their fellow-citizens, but 
to demoriftrate what wrong fentiments they had enter- 
tained of their valour. After tbey had cut oiF all com- 
munication betwixt the city and continent, they befieged it 
in form, and foon reduced it to the laft extremity. The 
Carthaginians, involved in thefe deplorable circumftanees, 
began to iefle£l upon, their paft folly and ingratitude ; but 
bow to extricate tbemfelves from their prefent diiBculties, 
was the queftion. In the mean time Cartalo, tbe general's 
fon, arrived in the city from Tyre, and, had matters taken 
a right turn, might have had a conference with his father, 
and pofTibly have difpofed him to an accommodation. This 
Cartalo had been fent by bis countrymen to Tyre, with the 
tenths of an immenfe quantity of plunder taken by bis fa- 
ther in Sicily, intended as a donation or offering to the 
Tyrian Hercules ; and, pafling by tbe camp in his return 
bome, was ordered by bis father to come to him imme- 
diately: but this command, for the prefent, he evaded, 
under pretence, that be muit perforni tbe public offices of 
religion* before he could give an inftance of filial duty. 
Machseus was not pleafed with this anfwer ; however, he 
took care to conceal his refentment» not daring to do any 
thing that might look like the leaft violence offered to religion. 
Soon after this incident, Cartalo, having obtained l^ave for 
that purpofe, he came out of tbe city to the camp, dre.fled 
in his pontifical robes ; for he was, as it ihould item, the 
prieft of Hercules. His father, far from being flruck with 
fuch a pompous appearance} taking him in private, addreff- 
ed himfelf to him in the following terms: /^ Hafl thoju the 
afTurance, abandoned wretch, to appear in this rich and 
fplendid habit before fo many miferable citizens, and a 
camp overwhelmed with diftrefs ? What mean thefe enCgns 
of peace and felicity at this juncture but to infult all of 
us ? Was there no other place for thee to difplay thy pride 
and baugbtinefs in, but this fpot of ground, which is the 
fcene of thy father's mifery and diigrace ? How came you 
fo late{y to defpife^ with fuch an inlolent air, the command, 
I will not fay of your father, but the general of your fellow- 
citizens I And what are thefe gorgeous robes but the fruit 
of my victories ? Since therefore you have confidered me 
puJermci' ^ot as a father, but an exile» I, in return, will behave to you 
/r/ hh /jnt not as a father, but a general.'* He immediately ordered a 
Curtaii. iiigii crofs to be ere£tedj and caufed him to be crucified in 

: his 






J'he Hifiory of the Carthaginians* 277* 

his facred vcftments, in the fight of all the citizens. Some The city 
days after this execution, the city furrendered ; when, con- furun4ir$% 
Telling the fenate and people, he complained of the injury 
and indignity offered him, and excufed the hdftile manner in 
which he had behaved towards them, as not being the eflfedl 
of choice but neceffity. He, for the prefent, made no al- 
terations in th^ eftablifhed form of government ; but con- 
tented himfelf with putting to death ten of the fenators, hy 
whofe advice the late violent refolutions againfl: him and the 
army had been taken ^. 

All things in Carthage being thus eftablifhed upon the 
ancient footing, the republic enjoyed fome repofe. But 
this was not of long continuance 5 for Machaeus, elated 
by the late advantages he had gained, endeavoured to fub- 
vert the conftitution, and introduce arbitrary power. But 
his pernicious views being happily difcovered, his fchemc 
was defeated, and he received the punifliment due to fo 

treat a crime. Upon which event Juftin makes this re- 
eftion : ** He was juftly rewarded for the cruelty he had 
been guilty of both to his fon and his country *." 

We are told bj' Herodotus, that Cambyfes, in the fixth 
year of his reign, rrfolved upon an expedition againft the 
Carthaginians ; but that he was forced to abandon his pro- 
jcft, becaufe the Phoenicians, without whofe help he could' The Fhne* 
not carry on that war, refufed to aflift him, fincc the Cartha- »^V/Vi»j r^- 
ginians were their defcendants. This is a proof, that the f^fi*^y^fi 
whole naval power of the Perfian empire at that time, ^ 
without the affiftance of the Tyrians, was not able to cope* 
with the Carthaginians ". 

In the year after the regifuge, the Cai'thaginians con- Yr. of Fl. 
eluded a treaty with the Romans. They were the firft na- . 'p*5- 
tion the Romans were acquainted with out of Italy, and ^°^* 

with whom they entered into an alliance. This treaty tfiggCar- 
chiefly related to navigation and commerce, and was to be tha^inians 
feen, in Polybius*s time, on the bafe of a column, in the conclude 
ancient Roman language, which, as that writer tells us, their firjl 
was fo different from what was fpoken in his time, that J][^^]^^ 
thofe who were moft converfant in the Latin tongue, could me^nu 
not, without much ftudy and labour, underftand it ". 

This treaty wais figned twenty-eight years before Xerxes 
invaded Greece, and gives us to underftand, that the whole 
ifland of Sardinia, and part of that of Sicily, were then 
fubje£i to the Carthaginians. 

* luftin. & Orof. ubi fupra. * Juftin. ubi Aipra, " Herodot* 
«b. iii. n polyb. lib. iii. p. 245, 146, 247. edit. Gronov," 

T3 It 



07 & Tie Hijlory of the Carthaginians. 

It appears, that the Carthaginians were very w^ell ac« 
quainted with the coafts of Italy, had vifited feveral of the 
petty nations in that country, and even made fome attempts 
upon them^ before this period. 

It is evident, that this nation was tolerably verfed in the 
art of fortification, and built forts or caftles upon their 
making a defcent in any country* For they are prohibited} 
by one article of the treaty, to ere<2 any forts w'hatfoever in 
the country of Latium, even in cafe tney at any time in- 
vaded it. 

This treaty likewife makes it manifeft, that the Cartha- 
ginians were particularly careful to exclude the Romans 
from all the territories fubje£b to, as well as from the know- 
legc; of. what was tranfa£ting in them ; being» even at that 
time, jealous of (he growing power. of the Romans. They 
feemed, even in thefe early tinges, to harbour in their bo- 
{bms the fccret feeds of the rancour, which was one day to 
burfl out in long and criiel wars ; and which nothing could 
cxtinguiQi, but the ruin of one of tbefe two mod powerful 
republics. 

The Carthaginians, according to Polybius, would not 
allow the Romans to fail beyond the promontory called the 
Fair Promontory (lying to the north of Carthage), left they 
ihould difcover the fruitfulnefs of the land, and the happy 
fituationof the cities, and confequently (hould be tempted 
to make a fettlement. This^ it muft be owned, was a wife 
precaution, and ihewed that the Carthaginians w;ere not 
only a people of forefight, but likewife acquainted with the 
cnterprifing genius of the Romans, long before they came 
• to boftilities. 
Jnfag^fiti" ^^^ republic being deljvered^from the imminent danger 
rei<^^ Ma- that threatened it, chofe Mago to fuGceed Machaeus in all 
€h0fts j j[jg hjgh pofts he filled. If we may judge of Mago's capa- 
city from the good efFe£ts of his adminiftration, he was a 
peifon of mod confummate merit and abilities. Juftin tc- 
iates, that he was the firft who introduced military difci* 
pline amongft the Carthaginian foldiery. In his time the 
dominions of Carthage were alfo much enlarged, its com* 
merce rendered more extenfive, its riches increafed, and vir- 
tue alone was countenanced both iti the army and ftate. In 
gtniisfuc" fine, he left his country in a moil flourifhing condition. 
ceideaby His two fons, Afdrubal and Hamilcar, fucceedcd him in 

/•" lifd ^^® ^^^^ employments ^ 

bTl an/^' Afdrubal and Hamilcar being adorned with the fame \ir* 

Hamilcar, tues that rendered their father fo confpicuousj the people 

• Judin. lib. x\x> fub iniu 

of 



The Hifi^ry qf the Carthaginian^ a 7 9^ 

of Cartilage thought they could not do better than confer 
upon them the command of the army that was to afl againfl 
Sardinia \ which iiland it feems had revolted. Accordingly 
they Janded their forces in that ifland, and for fome time 
ca/ried oa a war againft che Sardi ; but with what fuccef^ 
is not recorded. However, we are- told, that towards the 
clofe of it Afdrubal. waSj mortally wounded ; by which me-* 
lancholy accident the intire commafid of the forces devolved 
Ufion his brother. The Carthaginians made great lamen- 
lation for this general, and indeed with rcafon. For he had t 
beenr eleven times one of the fuffetes, and difcharged the ^ 
duties of that high function with great reputation ; and had 
triumphed no lefs than four times. Nay^ the. enemy them- 
felves conddered his death as a blow given the Carthagini- 
ans that might be attended with fatal efFe£);s. 

About this period the Carthaginians determined to fiiak^ q'heCar' 
off the African yoke, that is, to difcontinue the tribute, thaginiant 
which, by their original contraft with that people, they attempt to 
were obhged to pay : to efFed which purpofe they declared ^''/^^ 
war againft them. The Africans having juftjce on their Lj/^^^* 
fide, fuccefs attended their arms; and notwithftandijig the 
power of their enemies, a peace was concluded to their ad- 
vantage ; the principal article of the treaty importing, tha(: 
the tribute at firft impofed upon them for the ground on 
which the city (lood Ihould be continued p. r 

About this time Darius Hyftafpis, king, of Perfia, fent Darius' 
an embafly to Carthage, requiring the people of that city to Myflofpis 
abftain from fiuman faciifices, and eating dog's fleih \, to f^"^^ ^ 
burn their dead, and not bury them, as had always been *r fj/Ei^^g 
Ac pra<ttice in their territories ; and laftly, to furnifh him . « 

with a body of auxiliary forces to ferve in the war he had 
declared againft Greece. Every thing was complied with,, 
at leaft in appearance, for fome time, till all apprebenfions 
•f feelings his re fentment were vanlftied, except this lafl: 
article, from which the Carthaginians de fired to be excufed, 
as ail their troops were -then othprwifc employed. Juftin 
infinuates, that this monarch laid his commands upon the 
Carthaginians on this occa&on. But this we can fcarce be- 
lieve ; fince it does not appear from hiftory that Carthage 
was ever fubjcft or even tributary to the Perfians. Bcfides, ^ 
this author, from whom thefe particulars are drawn, affirms, 
Dariu^ to have fent ambaffadors to Carthage ; which is a 
plain intimation, that the people of that city were not hi^ 
fubjeds. 

Some few years afterwards, the Greeks of Sicily being 
hzidSti by the Carthaginians, fometime^, foiicited Leoni*- 

P Juftin, lib. xix. fub init. * 

T 4 dr-s 



%z^ 



Cfbft gains 

jomt id" 
*!faHtag$$ 
0Vfr thi 

C^riAafh 



The Hlfiory of the Carthaginians* 

d as to fend fomc Lacedaemonian forces to their reliefs. From 
Herodotus it appears, that they could not obtain their re- 
queft ; but that however Gelon, the tyrant of Syracufe, 
was fo happy as to prefcrve his own dominions^ and even 
to enlarge them. From the prodigy^us forces with which 
the Carthaginians invaded Sicily almoft inimediately after 
this period, it is probable they did not fuftain any very con* 
ftderable lofs in that war. It cannot be inferred from He-* 
rgdotuSy as wc formerly imagined, that the Carthaginians 
were expelled Sicily by Gelon at this time ; but only that the 
tyrant gained fome advantages over them, extended his 
frontiers* and fupported himfelf without the af&ftance of 
the Greeks, %» the paflage referred to implies. 

Although the Carthaginians, on account of the wars they 
were then engaged, could not fupply Darius with any fuc*^ 
cours againft the Greeks, as has been juft abferved} yet it 
lippears extremely probable from hiftory', that an offenGve 
gnd defenfive league was formed betwixt thefe two powers 
towards the clofe of that princess reign : at lead it is moft 
certain! that an alliance was entered into between Darius's 
fucceiTor Xerxes, and the ftate of Carthage, not many years 
after the Perfian embafly was fent to that city. By the treaty 
concluded with Xeri^es, the Caithaginians engaged to in* 
vade, Sicily with all their forces, and endeavour to drive the 
Greeks from thence, as well as the continent of Italy, whilft 
that prince fhould march in perfon, with the whole ftrength 
of the Perfian empire, againft Greece itfelf •. 

Before we enter difeftly upon the tranfa£lions of the Car* 
thaginians in Sicily, we (hall give a (hort account of the firft 
footing this nation got in Spain. We are not told in hif. 
tory precifely when this event happened \ neverthelefs, there 
is great reafon to believe from Diodorus Siculus and Juftin, 
that it was very early, and before the times we arc now 
fpeaking of. The former of thefe authors aiferts, that the 
great nerves of the Carthaginian power were the mines of 
•Spain ; that by them they were enabled to equip fuch poT»^ 
crful fleets, and bring fuch formidable armies into the neld | 
and, that by their affiftance, they made fuch extenfive con« 
quefts in Sicily and Africa, Hence it is apparent, that the 
firft Carthaginian fettlement in Spain muft have long pre- 
ceded not only the reigns of Xerxes and Darius, but even 
that of Cyrus himfelf. But this is rendered ftill more cvi* 
iient by Juftin, who intimates, that this happened when 
the city pf GadeS| now Cadi?, was but of late ftanding, or 



q Herod ot. lib. vii* 
lib* )(it cap i^ t« 



Juilin-Ub. lix^ 



t Piodor. Sio.' 



OTca 



The Hiftoiy of the Carthagmians. 28 1 

even in its infancy. The neighbouring Spaniards, finding 
the new city beginning to flouriih, attacked it with fucn 
force, that the inhabitants were obliged to call in the Car* 
chaginians to their affiftance. Both of them being origin* 
ally colonies from Tyjre» the Carthaginians readily granted 
their requeft, and'furnifliing them with powerful fuccours, 
not only repulfed the Spaniards, but lil^wife reduced al« 
moft the whole province in which their new city ftobd •. ' 

This happy beginning made that ambitious nation enter* Gnat^ 
tain thoughts of fubduing the whole country, to \^hich they ^^-^^ 
were alfo ftrongly excited by its rich mines. It is probable /f^^^jlih 
they could not pu(h their conquefts far at iirft, becaufe they the time 0/ 
had to encounter very warlike nations, who defended them* HannibmL 
felves with great courage and refolution« It appears from 
the accounts of Livy and Polybius, that the greateft part of 
Spain remained unconquered till the wars of Hamilcar^ 
Afdrubal, and Hannibal. Nay, it is very probable, that 
the Carthaginians could never have entirely reduced fo 
many provinces as Strabo obferves, had the Spaniards form- 
ed but one (late, or n\utually aififted each other : but as , 
every canton, every people, were entirely detached from 
tlieir neighbours, and had not the leaft correipondence with 
them, they fucceffively fell a prey to the common enemy* 

We are told by Diodorus Siculus, that the Carthaginians 7ke Car* 
fent a colony into the ifland Ebufus or Erefus, now Yvica^ i^gwaits 
on the coaft of Spain, a hundred and fixty years after the ^'^*^f 
foundation of their city. The city of Erefus, the capital of ^he**^Uad 
the ifland, built by this colony, was furrounded with a good Ebufusm 
wall, and had a commodious harbour for (hips. The houfes 
were, for the moft part, built in an elegant tafte^ and in* 
habited by a variety of barbarous nations, as Diodorus calls 
them ; but the moft numerous of thefe were the Phccni* 
cians or Carthaginians. It is highly probable, therefore^ 
that about this time the Balearic iflands, at prefent known 
by the names of Majorca and Minorca, were likewife either 
planted or reduced by the fame people. This can fcarce 
be doubted, if we confider, that the name itfelf is Pboeni* 
cian or Punic \ that Ebufus is but feven hundred ftadia, i. e« 
not a hundred miles, diftant from the Balearic iflands $ that 
the Carthaginians pofiefled thefe iflands from fuch remote 
antiquity, that their firft arrival is prior to every thing re- 
lated ot them by any hiftorian now exant, except their 
peopling *the ifland Ebufus $ and that, according to Vt>i 
truvius, Ebufus was reckoned to belong to the Balearic 
iflands. We learn from Juftin, that the firft expedition the 

t Diodor, Sic. lib* v. cap t| a. Juftin. lib. xUv. 

Carthaginians 



itf ' The Hifiiffy of the Carthaginians. 

C^aiiliaginians made to Spain, was in order to affift tliedty 

of Oades \ and as the Carthaginian fleet, failing from Car-« 

thage to Gades, eafiiy might, and almoft naturally would, 

take Ebttfus and the othtr Balearic iflafnds in its way, there 

It great reafon to believe that Gades was relieved, and £« 

buflis, with the other Baiearii^ iflands, planted or reduced 

much about the fame time. The particular periods, like* 

wife^ in which Juftin and Diodorus maintain thefe events 

to have happened, feem nearly to correfpond ; a circum- 

ftance which in fome meafure confkms our opinion. This 

admitted, it will 'follow, that the Carthaginians made their 

.'firftdefcent in Spain about a hundred and fixty years after 

t^e building of their city, which we apprehend to be on^ 

Ckf the moft early foreign tranfadions they were concerned 

in. j&s Carthage was fo potent when Gades was in its in-* 

fancy, we mud fuppofe the former to have been at leafl: 

eighty or a hundred years older than the latter ; and if fo, 

Dido might have founded her city about the tijne of the 

Trojan war, (ince, according to Velleius, Gades was built 

by the Tyrians about that number of years after the deftruc^ 

tion of Troy. 

SMers ' ikifother motive that induced the Carthaginians to make 

from Spain tfaemfdves mafters of Spain, was the great number of re*. 

pni^great ^yj\^^ found in that country. The Spaniards were Taliant, 

/i&zlc^r. eafiiy dtfciplined, and capable of enduring all kinds of la* 

ihagin'taM bour and fatigue* With fuch immenfe treafure, therefore, 

f^'wer. fts they annually drew from thence, and fuch bodies of the 

beft foldiers as were continually formed for their fervice, it 

is no wonder the Carthaginians ihottld make fuch prodigious 

efforts to enflave all their neighbours **. 

ftrfiftuU' ^g Diodorus Siculus has given us a defcription of Sicily, 

l^f^Car- iS&rdinia, the Balearic iflands, Corfica, &c. in the fame 

thaginians chapter, we think this authorizes us to fpeak a word or two 

$M Lorfica, here concerning the firii Carthaginian fettlement in the laft 

mentioned ifland. Sardinia, aff has been intimated above, 

was in the hands of the Carthaginians, and had been fo for 

(oitkt time, when the firft treaty was concluded between 

them and the Romans. Corfica, likewife, we have reafoa 

to imagine, was poflefTed by them, either wholly or in party 

in very ancient times. This ifland was called by the 

Greeks Cyrnus, by the Romans and natives Corfica ; had a 

beautiful large harbour, according to Diodorus, named Sy- 

Yacufium, together with two con fiderable cities, Calaris, or 

Aleria, built by the Phbc«eans, and Nicaca by the Etrufcans. 

Notwitbftanding the defeat of the Carthaginian and Jitr uii- 

tt IQod. Sic. lib* «. cap- a. 

can 



5^ H^ibry of the CarthaglnianL %Z% 

can fleets by the PbocsaanS) in the l^ign of CyroSj the tIc* 
tory co'ft the lauer io dear, that they were obliged to abaa^ 
don Cyrnu6 to the former. We are farther informed b]f 
Herodotus, that the CyrnianSy that is> the Corficans» were 
one of thofe nations, outof which the Carthaginians formed 
that great army, with which they invaded Steily in the days 

of Gelon. Thefe, to omit many others that might eafily 

be produced, are fufficient proofs, that the ftate of Carthage 
had part of CorGca, at leaft, in very remote times ^« 

The fmall iflands of Melita and GauLos» now Malta and Maltamii 
Gozo or Gozzo, being conveniently (ituated for tf ade^ and ^**« ^' 
' having commodious ports, were indifputaWy fubjeA to. the f'^'^A^ 
Carthaginians. It appears from Diodorus, that thefe tflaodlft ^CarlLtge* 
were at firft peopled either by ^he Carthaginiansj or- their, 
anceftors the Phoenicians. 

We have already obferved, that part of the ifle of Sicilf When the 
was fubjeft to the ftate of Carthage before the beginnins' Carthagi* 
of the Perfian empire*, but when the Carthaginians firft ^*^^i firft 

carried their arms thither, for want of fufficient liffht from '.TSl' 1. 
1 Ti I 1 • ° ineir arms 

hiitory, we cannot take upon us to determme. into Sicilu 

After the concluCon of the treaty with Xerxes, the Car- unknown. 

tfaaginians, in purfuance of their engagements^ made great '^^^ f^*"" 

preparations for war again ft the Greeks of Sicily both br '^^f'""^»' 
r J 1 J -^pu r .* r .I.- r ' make great 

lea and land. 1 he preparations tor this war were lo pro- pretara" 

digiousy that three years elapfed before they ^t,xt. com* tionsferam 

pleted, notwithftanding Xerxes fent vaft fums of money expedition 

from Perfia for that purpofe. With thefe they hired great '^ ^'^'{r» 

numbers of mercenaries in Spain, Gaul, Liguria, and Cor* 

fica, and raifed what forces they could in Africa. All 

things at laft being in readinefs, they failed from Carthage 

with an army of three hundred thoufand. men, compofedof 

different nations, and a fleet of above two thoufand (hips 

of war, with three thoufand tranfports,. not doubting to 

make an entire conqueft of Sicily the firft campaign \ 

The general who commanded in this expedition was Ha- Y*** ^f Pl» 

milcar, the fon of Hanno, according to Herodotus^* or of * t ch 

Mago, as Juftin aflerts, a peifon of great authority both in ^g^, 

the army and the city, who had diftinguilhed himfelf on -^ 

maoy occafions in the fervice of his country. In his paf- HamiUar^t 

fage from Carthage to Sicily, his borfes and chariots, with ^^V^.^ ^"^ 

the veffels they were on board, periihcd in a ftoqn, which i^^^^'n^^^^^ 

the Carthaginians doubtlefs., being extremely addided to 

fuperftition, confidered as ominous. However, the generM 

himfelf, upon his arrival at Panormus, now Palermo, en-» 

^ Herodot. lib. vii. « Diod. Sic. lib. xi. cap. ». HCTodot, lib. 

Tii. Epbor. apu(i Scbgl. Find. Pytb. i. ad Ver *£W^f|cxx»y. 

deavoured 



^84 '^^^ Hyimy of the Carthaginians. 

deaTOiired to diffipate thefe gloomy apprehenfions, by de« 
daring that, fince they were happily arrived in Sicily, he 
looked upon the war as concluded, and that all the iineafi- 
nefs the late ftorm gave him was a fear that the Sicilians 
would efeape the danger that threatened them ^ 
Bi mvijts After he had landed his troops, he halted three days to 
Mmirm> refreih them, and repair the damage his fleet had fuftained 
in the late florm ; and then marching to Himera, a city 
in the neighbourhood of Panormus, immediately caufed it 
to be invefted. Having formed the (iege, he carried on his 
afiauks with great vigour and affiduity ; but was at lad at- 
N tacked in his trenches by Gelon and Theron, the tyrants of 

Syracufe and Agrigentum, with their united forces. The 
battle was long and bloody ; but at laft vi£bory declared in 
favour oJF the tyrants. Hamilcar was (lain, and the whole 
Carthaginian army either put to the fword, or obliged to 
furrendef at dtfcretion. The Carthaginian fleet likevrife 
was totally deftroyed : but of thefe memorable a£tions our 
^ readers will find a particular and di(tin£l: account in the 

hiftory of Syracufe. 

Diodorus Siculus and Herodotus have given diflPerent ac- 
counts of the de^th of Hamilcar, which it may not be im- 
proper to tranfcrrbe. According to the former, that gene- 
ral was facrificing, and the greater part of the foldiery at- 
tending him vnthout arms, when he was killed by a body 
of Syracufan horfe. But the latter intimates, that Hamil- 
car remained in the camp during the whole time of the en- 
gagement, which continued from morning till the duflc of 
the evening, without intermiilion. Diodorus adds., that the 
Syracufans, without the leaft oppofition, making up to Ha- 
milcar, killed htm, purfuant to their general's orders> cut 
in pieces moil of his marines, and fet fire to the (hips. He- 
rodotus, on the contrary, gives us to underdand, that Ha- 
milcar was employed the whole day in throwing heaps of 
vi£lims upon a flaming pile ; but that, feeing his troops 
routed, he himfelf rulhed into the fire, and was entirely 
confumed. Hamilcar was by his mother's fide a Syracu- 
fan, and, from what has been advanced by Herodotus, 
feems to have been efleemed as a perfon of uncommon 
merit by the Syracufans as well as the Carthaginians. 

Polysenus, in his account of the Carthaginian general's 
death, differs in fome particulars both from Diodorus Si- 
culus and Herodotus. According to this author, Gelon, 
finding himfelf not ftrong enough to attack the enemy, fent 
Pediarcbus, the captain of his ar(^hers, who much refembled 

y Diod. Sic. & Herodot. ubi fupra. 

him. 



The Hijiary of the Caribaginians* zZ$ 

bim^ drefled in royal robes, out of the camp, with ordeft 
to offer vidiims upon fome altars near the fpot of ground 
on which Hamilcar ttfed daily to facrifice. Pediarchuswas ' 
attended by a party of his archers, clothed in white gar- 
ments, with large fprigs of myrtle in their hands, as a figit 
of their going to perform fo folemn an z6t of devotion. 
Under the myrtle each of them had concealed his how^ 
with feveral arrows, which they were to difcharge at the 
general as foon as he came within a certain diftance. Ha« 
milcar, fufpe£^ing no violence, came, as ufual, with his at* 
tendants, to addrcfs himfelf to th^ gods, and was immiC-i 
dialely (lain. However this be, the Carthaginians and Sy- 
racufans, both ambitious of claiming fo great a man, pro- 
claimed, that Hamilcar, upon the defeat of his troops, va- 
nifhcd* and was ncvpr afterwards feen. The former, not- ^ke Car^ 
withftanding his misfortune, and their immediate refent>- thagiuiatu 
fluent, in. after-ages paid him divine honours, boA in their ^0 ^^ 
capital cityj and every other place where their colonies weic *'^*''' 
eftablifhed •• 

We muft not omit obfcrving, that Terillus, the fon of TgrilkthH 
Crinippus, invited the Carthaginians at this time into Si-: V^^'l^-^ 
cily ; and therefore was, in fome tefpefl, as well as Xerxes, JiJ^^^^ 
the occafion of this fatal war. Terillus was tyrant of Hi- sicily. 
mera ; but being driven thence by Theron, the fon oiJSsxc* 
fidemus, tyrant of Agrigentum, he meditated revenge. To 
gratify which, at the inftigation of Anaxilaus, the fon of 
Critineus, tyrant of Rhegium, who married his daughter 
Cydippe, he bad recourfe to the Carthaginians, being well 
afiured they would not negleft fo favourable an opportunity 
«f enlarging their dominions in the ifland of Sicily. Ha- 
milcar, in order to fecure his fidelity, obligee! him to fend his 
fons as hoftages. This account Herodotus tells us he re- 
izeived from the Sicilian writer^ of his time, who made no 
mention, as far as we can find, of the alliance between the 
Perfians and the Carthaginians. 

The greateft part of the Carthaginian prifoners, taken by 
Qelon, were put in irons, and referved for the public fer- 
vice. The work they were chiefly employed in at firft was 
cutting and hewing of ftone ; of which afterwards they built 
thelargeft of the temples at Agrigentum, and made thofe 
conduits or aquedufts to convey water from the city, which 
were fo much admired by the ancients, and called rheaces, 
from one Phcax, who was overfeer of the work. The 
Agrigentines, likewife, by their labour, funk a fifh-pood at 

^ Polysen. Strat« lib^ i« cap. S7< ex. «« Herodot ubi fupra. 
; • a great 



^6. The Hifioty of the Carthagmians* 

t great expence, feveli; (ladia in circumference, and twtt^j 

4ttbiCft i^aep *• 

Cehm cm^ r By thtf late vifkorjr, which was complete both in itfelf 

itemvjfa- **^ its confequcnccst Gelon acquired great glory, and was 

rnoKs Greek joftly celebrated by foreigners as well as his own fubjeds, 

eowtMomd^ afi one of the moft-rcnowned and experienced generals any 

^^* 9ge or nation ever produced. The- ftratagem by which the 

Carthaginian army was overthrown he himfelf contHved,^ 

and condu£led throughout, being the life and foul of the 

arsvy in the ^ecution of it. Some authors have not fcru« 

pled to prefer him to Themiftocles, and the advantage ac« 

eruing to the Greek nation in general from this aOion to 

that gained by the battle of Platea. Be this as it may, we 

fearce find any dcfcription in hiftory of an engagement 

wherein the like carnage was made, and^uch a number of 

I prifoners taken. Of the Carthaginian fl^et one fmall boat 

only, witli a few men in it, arrived at Carthage. Thefe 

bfought the difmal intelligence of the entire defeat of th^if 

army, and thelofs of their fleet. The Carthaginians, Jittle 

ecpefling to hear of fuch a fignai difafter, but, on the con- 

fiary, pleafing themfelves with the imagination of reducing 

'^ ' %km whole ifland of Sicily almoft withbut ftriking a ftrojte, 

were violently fhooked at receivinjg this melancholy advice* 

N^tthing but outcries and lamentations were to be heard 

throughout the whole city ; the encBfiy was already fup- 

jmkd to be at their gates ; in ihort, all orders and degree! 

f>f men were overwhelmed with inexpreffible grief, confter*- 

nation, and defpair. 

^Ae terms ' However, Gelon, upon their application, granted them a 

Bifwkicn peace {upon the following terms: Firft, that they ftiould 

ke grants pay two thoufand talents of filver towards defraying the 

$4a€e. expences of the war. Secondly, that they fhould build two 

• templesy where this treaty Ihould be depofited, and at aB 

times be expofed to public view. Thirdly, that, for the fii* 

ture, they fhould abftain ffom offering human facrtfices. 

This laft article evinces the humanity of Gelon^s temper, 

and is a proof that the people of Carthage were oMiged a 

fecond time to aboiifli that barbarous prafi^ice, for a certain 

period at leaft. For it cannot be doubted but they ratified 

thia. treaty, it being fo advantageous to them, at a junSure 

» when they were upon the very brink of deftriiftion. 

The Carthaginians, having recovered their fpirits by the 
happy turn their afl^irs had taken, through the conqueroi's 
clcmenpy and moderation, thought it juft to Ihew their pis^ 

* Diod Sici ubi fupra. 

titude 



M9 



The Hifiory cf the CarthaginianSw i8f ' 

tltude to Damareta, Gelon's wife, who <had forwarded oa 
accommodation betwixt the two powers, and been chbfly 
inftrumental in bringing it to a happy conclufion. Thqy, 
therefore, immediately after the peace,- fent her a crown-of 
gold valued at a hundred talents of that metal. This cK>un| 
Gelon turned into money, and coined pieces, called fti^m 
his wife's name Damareciay each being worth- ren Attia 
drachmas. The Sicilians gave them the name of Pente^ 
contalitra, from their being fifty pounds in weight ^ 
• We muft not omit one circumdance, which will ferwi as jff tnjfatwi 
m farther inftance of Gelon's military capacity. Upon b«i of^Oehm's * 
firft approach to Hiniera, to fuccour the bei^ged, a 60* militaty ^ 
tachment of his forces defeated many of the Carthagiviiait f*-?^«!^ 
parties fent to forage in different parts of the ifland. Be- [ 

ndes what they killed, they took t^n thotifand prifoaers* 
Thefe probably wei^ the worft troops in the Carthagttriam 
army } and therefore a ftra^agem, F^ontinus relates Geloti 
to have been the author of, feems to bid fair to have been 
put in execution at this particular period. That princef 
having a large number of prifonets, picked out the weakeft 
of them, who were^ auxiliaries, moftly tawny, and of a 
"^ry defpicable appearance. Thefe he expofed quite naked 
to the view of his foldiefs, that they miglit have. the moft 
contemptible notion of the enemy «. , * ^ ^ . 

' Befides the public works above mentioned, the OartiMM 
ginian fpoils enabled Gelon to build two noble >^mples, the 
one to Ceres, and the other to Proferpine* A tripod iof 
gold likewife, of fixteen talents, he caufed to be n(adf ,> a||d 
fent as a donation to the temple of Apollo at Delphi, as'aa 
acknowlegement of his gratitude to that deity. 
■ The Carthaginians, being incenfed at Hamilcar, iiiiput«>* q^ ^r 
ihg the late difafter entirely to his cond.uf):^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ fan of Ha*. 
the great fcrvices he had done the ftate on other occaiione, miicar, 
refolved that his femily (hould feel the effeas of their rc-^«»'A<^ 
fcntment ; and therfcfore banifhed his fon Gifco, \(rho retir- 
ed to Selinus, where he died for want of neceifaries. The 
Sicilian cities that joined the Carthaginians, upon their firft 
application to Gelon, were received into- favour, and had a 
confirmation of all their ancient privileges graiited, thoo^li 
the conqueroi", with a very good grace, ftiight have treated 
them with feverity "*. 

^* From this time to the clofe of the ninety-fecond, or the* 
beginning of the iiihety- third Olympiad, we fcarce fm4 

** Hem. ibid. &Pliit.-Api)phth. 175. & de Scr. Vindic, Peor. p%'55*/ 
^ Frontin. lib. i. cap. i|, iS« ^ Diod. Sic« lib. xiii. ^lian. 

Var. Hift, lib. vi, cap. xi« 

any 



^88 ^^ Hyidry of the Carthaginians. 

any niention of the Carthaginians In the Sicilian hiftory* 
The laft blow they received in Sicily was fo terrible, that 
a peace of fome duration was abfolutely neceflary for the 
re-eftabliihment of their affairs \ and it is natural to fup<« 
pofe» that Sicily would be the lad they would, for a confi" 
derable period of time, choofe for the fcene of adlion. 
Howevefi a fair opportunity at laft ofiering» they embarked 
io. another war, which, though pretty bloody and expenfivCj 
ended with better fuccefs to them than the former. 
f^ Car'- In fome parts of this interval, feveral remarkable incl- 
ihttgimwu detits, mentioned by Juftin, Salluft, and Valerius Maximusj 
^T^i fc*^ *o hzvc happened. The Carthaginians turnjed their 
Li^^i **""** 8ig*ioft ^^^' Moors, Numidians, and other African na- 
m Africa, tions, and greatly extended their frontiers in Africa. They 
likewife fhook off the tribute, which, for a long time, had 
given them fo much uneafinefsy and rendered themfelves 
abfolutely independent. 
Hmvt : They bad warm difputes witti the people of Cyrene, ^ 

nioarm^if' Mediterranean city, the capital of Cyrenaica, built by the 
ff"^*""'^ Therxans under Battus, who were a colony pf the Lacedse* 
^JlgJJ*' jnanians, which arofe from the want of a regulation of li- 
mits between the two ftates. A3 the Cyreneans were very 
powerful, much blood was fihed on this occaGon. But at 
laft the two nations, after having almofl: exhaufted each, 
ether by a long and expenfive war, accommodated their dif- 
ferences in the following manner ^ 

Being fo weakened, that they were both afraid of becom- 
ing a prey to fome foreign invader, they confented firfl to 
a ceflation of arms, in order to a pacification : afterwardt 
it was agreed, that each city ihould appoint two commif-- 
iaries, who fliould leave their refpe£live towns upon the 
fame day» and that the fpot they met upon (hould be the 
common boundary to both ftates. In confequence of thi$: 
agreement two brothers, called Philaeni, were difpatched 
from Carthage, who advanced with great celerity, whUft 
the Cyreneana proceeded at a flow pace. Whether this waa 
to be imputed to the lazinefs of the latter, or to fome ac-« 
cident intervening, is not certain. However, the laft is not^ 
improbable, fince in thofe fandy regions, at certain feafons 
of the year, there are as violent ftorms and tempefts m 
upon the fea. Nor is this to be wondered at, confidering 
that in fach countries, which are open and level, and have 
not even a fhrub to break the force of the wind, fometimes 
boifterous weather muft neceflarily happen. And then the 
(andj being put into a violent commotion9 is blown up into 

• Sal* Judg. cap. 79* 



Tlhe Hijlofy of the Carthagtntof^ tSj^ 

the air in great quantities, fills the eyes, mouthsy nofes, &c« 
, of travellers, and by that means greatly retards at lead, if 
it does not put an entire ftop to, their journey. Valerius 
Maximus intimates, that the Phil^eni a(^ed perfidioufly, hf 
departing before the appointed time, and thereby impofed 
upon the others. Be this as it may, the Cyreneans, finding 
themfeives too tardy, and fearing to be called to an aiccount 
for their condu£l at their return home, accufed the Cartha- 
ginians of breach of faith, by beginning their journey be^ * 
• fore the ftipulated time. They therefore infifted, that the 
eonvcntion agreed upon between their principals was brok-- 
en ; and declared they would fufFer all extremities, rather 
than fubmit to fuch bafe and ignominious treatment. On 
the other hand, the Philxni, with much feeming calmnefsr 
and moderation, defired the Cyreneans not to talk in fo 
lofty a ftrain, but propofe foipe expedient, whereby their 
differences might be removed, promifing at the fame time 
to fobmit to it, whatever it might be. The latter then pro- 
pofed that they fliould either retire from the place they had 
fixed upon for the limit of their dominions, or fuffer them« 
felves to be buried alive, not in the leaft imagining they 
would comply with fo cruel a condition : but herein they 
were difappointed ; for the Carthaginian brothers, without " 
hefitation, confented to lay down their lives, and by that 
facrifice gained a large extent of territory to their country. 
The Carthaginians ever afterwards celebrated this as a mod « 
heroic a£bion, paid them divine honours, and endeavoured 
to immortalize their names, by ere£ting two altars, with 
fuitable inicriptions upon them. Strabo informs us, that 
no traces of thefe were to be feen in his days, though the 
place ftill retained the name of the Altars of the Philseni. 
However, it is not to be doubted but the ftate of Carthage, 
as long as it exifted, kept them up, this being ever their 
boundary on the fide of Cyrenaica. 

The Egeftines, allies of the Athenians, after theconclu- Yr. of FL 
fion of the Syracufan war, of which they had been the a '^^p 
principal occafion, by inviting the Athenians into Sicily, !% * 
entertained ftrong apprehenfions of being called to account ' 

by the Syracufans for the afts of hoftility they had com- <rkt Egef* 
. mitted agai nil them. About this time alfo the Egeftines timsocca- 
had fome difputes with the Selinuntines about a regulation Jonanotktr 
of limits, which at laft broke out into an open rupture be- '^gg^\\^ 
twixt the two dates. But the former, dreading the refent- tanha^i* 
nient of the Syracufans, ind believing they would affift mam and 
their enemy with a large body of forces, concluded a peace Sjracu/anu 
with the latter upon their own terms. Though by this 
peaee the Egeftines gave up all the points io difpute, the 
Vol- XV. U, ScUn^ 



IQO 



7ht Car- 
iha^iniatis 
make great 
prepara^ 
tionsfor a 
war tuitk 
the 'Sell' 
nuntines. 



Hannibal 
lands his 
forces in 
SicUj. 



^^ Hannibal 
laysjtege 
to Selinus \ 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 

Selinuntines, not contented, made farther encroachments 
upon them ; which greatly irritating the Egcftines, they had 
recoarfe to the Carthaginians, imploring their proteAion, 
both againft the Selinuntines, and their confederates the 
Syracufans. The affair meeting with great difficulties^ it 
was for fome time debated at Carthage whatcourfe it would 
be proper to take. But at lail, after mature deliberation^ 
the people of that city, with a view to recover what they 
bad formerly loft in Sicily, promifed the Egeftines af&fl;- 
ance. 

However, the Carthaginians, before they dtre£^ly engaged 
in this war, made an ellimate of the prodigious fums nc- 
ccflary to fupport it, and the numerous body of forces re- 
quifite to carry it on with vigour. Afterwards they impow- 
ered Hannibal, whom they had appointed general^ to raifc 
an army equal to the undertaking, and to equip a fuitable 
fleet. That their efforts on this occaiion might be crowned 
with fuccefs, they alfo appropriated certain funds to the 
defraying all the expences of the war, intending to attack 
the ifland of Sicily with their whole power the beginning 
of the following fpring. 

Hannibal, who was then one of the fufFetes of Carthage^ 
as foon as the feafon would permit, failed for Sicily, and 
after a (hort paflage, arrived on the coaft of that ifland. 
Before he landed his troops, he was difcovered by a party 
of Selinuntine horfe, who gave immediate intelligence to 
their countrymen of the approach of the enemy. Upon this 
the SeHnuntines- difpatchcd couriers to Syracufe foi inftant 
relief. Hannibal, in the mean time, landing bis army, 
marked out a camp, beginning at a place called the Well of 
Lilybaeum, where the city of Lilybaeum was aftewards built. 
Here he remained a ihort time to refrcfli his troops> before 
he entered upon the operations of the campaign.. 

According to Ephorus the hiftorian, the Carthaginian 
army confifted of two hundred thoufand foot, and four 
thoufand horfe, though TimaeusSiculus will not allow them 
to have been much above a hundred thoufand. Be that as 
it may, Hannibal, after having made all the neceffary dif- 
pofitions for opening the campaign, began his march for 
Selinus. In his route he took Emporium, a town (bated on 
the river Mazara, by ftorm ; and having furrounded Se- 
linus with his army, which he divided into two parts, be 
formed the fiege of that city. In order to pufli it on with 
the greater vigour, he ereftedtfix high towers, and brought 
as many battering-rams to the town. His flingers. sum! 
darters tikewife greatly annoyed the befieged, by forcing 
•them from many fortified pofts. The Selinuntines, not 

cxpcft* 



The HiftoYy of the ddrihaginiaHs. 2^1 

cxpe£Hng fuch a vifit from the Carthagiriiandj and having 
long been difufed to (leges, were ftruck with terror at the 
approach of fo formidable an army, and the refolution with ' 
which they carried on their attacks. However, as they had 
good reafon to expeft fpeedy fuccours, tbey defended them- 
fclves with great firmnefs. They all joined with the ut- 
moft unanimity in their efforts to repel the enemy, and 
deftroyed vaft numbers of their troops. So that the Car- 
thaginians, for a confiderable time, could not gain an inch 
of ground ^ 

In order to infpire his army with courage Hannibal^ pro- • 
mifed themi the plunder of the place, by which promife they 
were greatly animated. The Carthaginians, therefore, did 
not only repulfe with unparalleled bravery all the Tallies of 
the befieged, but, after an obftinate defence, like wife car- dnJiahi 
ried the place by aflault. Many fharp afiiojis happened i/. 
during this fiege ; but for a circumftantial account of themj 
we muft refer our readers to the hiftory of Syracufe. 

Selinus being taken by ftorm, and the plunder of it giveri Anlnflana 
up to the foldiers, it is impoffible to exprefs the mifery to of the Cat' 
which the poor inhabitants were reduced, and the cruelties ''*^<?'*'f* 
cxercifed by the Carthaginians, who, it muft be owned, on ^ ^'^' 
fuch melancholy occafions as thefe, generally a£bed as the 
moft favage Barbarians. The women, indeed, who fled 
with their children to the temples, efcaped the common de- 
ftruftion ; but their fafety was owing to the avarice, not 
compaifion, of the viftors : for, believing that thefe poot 
wretches would j if excluded all hopes of mercy, fet fire to 
the temples, and confume the treafure and valuable effeds 
they expefted to find in thofe places, they did not judge ic 
proper to drive them to a ftate of defperation. The ravages 
ill the city continued moft part of the night, infomuch that 
every place was full of blood, horror, and confufion. The 
furviving mitrons had the mortification to fee their daugh- 
ters forced to be fubfervient to the brutal luft of the Barbae 
tians, a fpedacle which, with a fenfe of the difmal fervi- 
tude in Africa, made them wifti they had not furvived their 
friends and relations. After fixteen thoufand miferable per- 
fons had been cruelly maflacred, and two thoufand fix hun- 
dred efcaped td Agrigentum, the city was rafed, two hun- 
dred and fifty years after its foundation. The women and 
children, amounting to about five thoufand, who outlived 
this fatal day, were carried into captivity «. * 

f Ephonis & Timseus. Siculua apud Diod. Sic. lib* xtii* i Diod* 
j^icul. ubi fupra. 

U 2 Afc^ 



2^1 

Thi Cmr* 
ikagimians 
ptumdiT ih0 
tempUs at 
Sidnus* 



Hannihal 

attacks 

Himera* 



7%< Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 

A few di^fs after the city waa ftpyrmed, tbree thoufan^. Sy«* 
rs^cufans arrived at Agngentum, on their mar^h to Selinusi 
bvit underftandipg that the pl^P^ wa$ t^k^n* they fent am- 
balTadors tp Haonibal, to treat oi th? red^mvptipxi of the cap- 
tive$, and to befeech hinii that he would at l^ai^ fpar^ the 
temples. Hannibal replied, that, fince the S^linuntin^^s. had 
not been ab)$ to defend their own liberty, tb^y d^ferved to 
be treated UJ^e ilaves; and that the gpds, pi:ovoked at their 
wjckednipfei h^ forfak6n both the city and the temples \ 
therefore it would be no facrilege to ftrip them of their orna- 
ments. ThijS anfwer is a clear demoadration of the Punic 
genius at that trme, and exa£lly correfponds with what Pio- 
dorus has related of the Carthaginians in this particular* 
" Thefe Bgrba^riap^ (fays that author) exceed all men iaim« 
piety : for other nations fpare thgfe who fiy into templest 
out of a principle pf religioo, npt daring to be guilty of any 
a£]^ of violence in thefe facred b4;iildings, left they (hoi^ld 
offend the deity : but the Carthaginians, on the contrary^ 
moderate their cruelty to thefe perfon3, that they may have 
a better opportunity of pillaging the temples themfeWes.'* 
The Syrapufa^is, however, no^withftanding this anfwer, fent 
another embafTy, and at the bead of it Empediones a Seli- 
ni^n.tine, who V^d always been in the inteceft of the Car- 
thaginian^i a;id h.ad even advifed his countjrymen to, open 
their gatc$ tp Hannibal at his 6rft appearing before^ the 
town. The Carthaginian general received him w^tb great 
afie^Iion, reQored his eftate, pardoned all the prjfpners re- 
lated to him, and even permitted the SLeHnuntines, who had 
fled to Agrigentum, to rebpild and repeople their city, and 
cultivate their lands, upon paying an anni;ial tribute to the 
Carthaginians **. 

After the redi^f^ion of Selinus, Hannibal marched with 
his army to attack Himera. He was more particularly 4^6* 
rou3 of making himfeif rr^afterof thisQity,in order to revenge 
the death of his grandfather Hamilcar, who had been flain by. 
Gelon* with above one hundred and fifty thoyfand Cartha- 
ginians Befides,^ as he had already punilhed th^ Seliaiin- 
tines for the infults they had pifered his father Gi£po in, hia 
banifl)ment, he now refolved to take vengeance of tb^i^i- 
mereans, fqr being the caufe of that banifhment. H^^ifigi ' 
therefore^ detached twenty thoufand Siculiand Sicani,wuh 
a.body of Carthaginian troops, to inveft the place, he eo^* 
camped* at a fmalj diftance.with forty thpufand pa^n, ip.qr-' 
der to cover the fiege. His troops being fluflied with their 
late fuQcefs, behavedwith undaunted couiage, and battered 



b Diodor. Sici^l* uj>i fuprai 



(h^ 



^e Hyioiy of the CarthaginianSi 



m 



the will with their engines in feveral places at once : but 
Hannibal finding this method inefFe£tual) undermined it, 
after having propped it up with large pieces of timber, 
which being fet on fire, great part, of it fell to the grounds 
A warm diipute cnfued, the Carthaginians making all pof- 
fible efforts to enter the town ; and the Himercans repulfing 
them with great bravfery : the befieged even repaired the 
wall; and prevented the Carthaginians from carrying on 
their approaches for a confiderable time. 

Animated by thefc advantages, the Himereans refolved TAtHimh' 
not to be any longer cooped up in their city, as the Sell- ''«««f ««*^ 
nuntines had been, but to endeavour, by one vigorous ef- ^M!'f J^J^*' 
fort, entirely to diflodge the enemy. Having, therefore, t^^ Cat^ 
pofted detachments of their garrifon at proper diftances on thagtnUm$% 
the wall, to repel any aflault that might be given, they made 
a fally on the befiegers with their whole remaining force, 
confining of ten thoufand men. The Carthaginians not 
dreaming that the befieged were capable of fuch an attempt, 
imagined, that the confederates of the Himereans had af- 
fembled all their forces, in order to oblige them to raife the 
fiege; which fuppofition throwing them into a panic, thfe 
Himereans at firft bore down all before them ; but the Car- but are r#- 
thaginians, rallying, and being fupported by Hannibal, fulftd* 
drove them back to the town. The Himereans fuftained a 
very confiderable lofs on this occafion, which greatly faci- 
litated the rcdudion of their city. Amongft the reft fell 
three thoufand men, the flower of their forces, who facrl- 
ficed their own lives to fecure the retreat of their fellow- 
citizens *. 

The Carthaginian army, though viftorious, was yet rough- T^ke Car" 
ly handled. Ephorus fays, they loft twenty thoufand men thagimam 
in the firft aftion, before they were purfued to Hannibal's •^"•^^'V^ 
. camp y though Timaeus biculus reduces this number to fix f;]^^,-^^^ 
thoufand. As there was a' very (harp engagement after- //^^^ 
wards betwixt the Himereans and Hannibal, many more 
muft undoubtedly have periftied, thojigh the precife num- 
ber of them is not mentioned by any hiftorian. According 
td Diodorus Siculus, the Carthaginian army, that laid fiege 
to the town, exclufive of Hannibal's camp, confifted of 
eighty thoufand efieftive men. 

After the late aftion, an accident happened, that, for fome 
time, protrafted the fiege of this famous city : but all diffi- 
culties being at laft fur mounted, Hannibal made himfelf 
'Wafter of it. After which, difmifling the Siculi and confe- 
derates, and diibanding the Campanbns, he fet fail for 



^ Diodor. SicuV. vbi fupra. 

U3 



Africa. 



/ 



}rg4 ?^^ Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 

Africa. The Siculi, upon their difmiilion, returned home ; 
as did likewife the Campanians : but the latter complained 
bitterly of the Carthaginians^ becaufe they thought them- 
felves a flighted by that nation, though they had remarkably 
diftinguifhed themfelves in the fervice at the fiege of i>cli- 
nus, and indeed through the whole courfe of the campaign ^. 
Hannibal Hannibal, upon his quitting Sicily, left a fmall body of 
leagues troops with his confederates, that they might not be too 
'^^'Vr 7%^^ much expofed to the refentment or ambition of their neigh- 
hutohfede- bours. After a fhort paffage, he arrived fafc at Carthage, 
rate$ in Si" loaden with the plunder he had carried off from Selinus and 
fffy- Himera. All the inhabitants went out to meet him on his 

arrival, and received him with loud and joyful acclamations. 
TAi Car- The Carthaginians were fo elated with Hannibal's fuccefs, 
ihazinians that they now meditated the reduftion of the whole ifland 
make pre- ^f Sicily ; but as that general's age and infirmities rendered 
/or another ^"^ "^^ f'^ capable of commanding the forces alone, they 
fi^mpaign, joinied in commiflion with him Imilcar the fon of Hanno, 
pne of the fame family. Thefe two generals did not only 
make great levies at home, but likewife hired great numbers 
of mercenaries. They received alfo a confiderable body of 
auxiliaries from the princes and dates with whom they were 
in alliance; namely, the Mauritanians, Numidians, and 
even the nations bordering on Cyrenaica. Befides all which, 
they took a body of Campanians out of Italy into their pay, 
which by experience they had found to be good foldiers, and 
fuch as might be entirely depended upon. After the junc- 
tion of all thefe troops with the national forces, the Cartha- 
ginian army, according to Ephorus, confifted of three hun- 
dred thoufand men ; but as Timaeus, with more probability, 
afrerts,.of about a hundred and twenty thoufand \ ^ army 
fufficient to over-run Sicily in one campaign. 
They people 'I'hc Carthaginians, in the interval betwixt the beginning 
^^tht^^"^ of their preparations, and their embarking for the Sicilian 
ifiand^ expedition, collefted from Carthage, and other cities in 

Africa, all perfons who were willing to tranfplant them- 
felves, and with them peopled a new city they had built near 
the hot-baths in Sicily, whi9h>yas frpm thence called by the 
Greeks Therma. , 

Before the grand fleet, which was compofed of a thou- 
fand tranfports, befides a numerous fquadron of gallies, with 
the forces on board, failed for Sicily, Hannibal fent forty 
gallies to reconnoitre the coafts, and gain intelligence of 
the enemy. Thefe fell in with a Syracufan fquadron of equal 
fprce oflFEryx, and immediately engaged them. The di(- 

\ Diodor* Sicul. ubi fupra. 

put? 



The Hiftofy of the Carthaginians. 29 j ^ 

pute was long and obdliiate, but at laft vi£lory inclined to ThiSyra- 
the Syracufans. Fifteen parthaginian .gallies were funk; cufansde" 
and the reft, by the favour of the night, made their efcape. *^^^i ,-. 
When the news of this unexpcfted defeat reached Carthage, ^^^^ ^ ' 
Haiinibal failed immediately with fifty gallies, deCgningboth y-^^. 
to prevent any ill confequences to the Carthaginians, and 
to fecure the paflage and landing of the army ^ 

Upon his arrival, the whole illand was alarmed ; and HanniM 
every city of confequence, having been before apprifed of tands his 
the great preparations of the Carthaginians, expc£icd to be ^?^' '"* 
attacked fir ft. Soon after, the whole fleet arrived on the aJ'vMCis 
coaft of Sicily, the troops landed near AgiigerHum, and to Agr'tgetf 
marched direftly to that city. tum\ 

The Syracufans, apprehenfive of an invafion from Car- 
thage, had fent to the Greeks of Italy, and the Lacedaemo- 
nians, to folicit fuccours ; and difpatched exprefles to all the 
Sicilian cities in their intereft, defiling them to unite their 
forces in defence of the common caufe. The Carthagini- 
ans, upon inverting Agrigentum, divided their army into 
two bodies. One of thefe, coi^fiftii^g of forty thoufand Afri- 
cans and Iberians, encamped on certain eminences at fome 
diftance from the town -, the other carried on the fiege, and 
fortified their camp with a wall, and an entrenchment, that 
they might be the better enabled to repulfe the fallies of the 
befieged. Thefe precautions they thought neceflary, ex- ^wkich cit]f 
pe£ling to meet with a vigorous refiftance. The Agrigen- hihtfiegts\ 
tines had forced all who were capable of bearing arms, to ^^{J^''^' 
affift in the defence of the place ; and had befides received ^^f.^ rg^ 
a reinforcement of five hundt^d men from.Gela, under the ceptwi. 
conduct of Dexippus the Lacedemonian, who was in high 
efteem at that time on account of his country, according to 
Timseus Siculus. Eight hundred Campanians alfo, who 
had formerly ferved under Imilcar, were taken into the fer- 
viceof the Agrigentines, and defended the hill Athenseum, 
which commanded the city, and was therefore a poft of the 
utmoft importance. Imilcar and Hannibal, having viewed 
the walls, and found a place where they thought it would 
be no difficult tafk to make a breach, began to batter them 
with incredible fury. The machines chiefly made ufe of on 
this occafion. were of furprifing force \ and two towers were 
brought againft the city, of a monftrous fize. The firft day 
out of thefe they made an aflault ; and, after having cut 
off many of the befieged, founded a retreat. However, the 
next night the Agrigentines fallied out, burnt the engines^ 

I Diodor. Sicul. ubi fupra^ atque Ephorus & Tlmaras Siculas apu4 
fund»ibid. 

U ij deftroyc4 



*» 



2g6 ^ht Htftery ofihi Carthaginians. 

deftroyed the towers raifed againft them, and, after having 
made a great flaughter, retired in good order into the town. 
Hereupon Hannibal, intending to florm the place in dif- 
ferent parts at once,* commanded all the tombs and (lately 
monuments, Handing round the city, to be demoliihed, and 
mounts to be raifed with the rubbiih as high as the walls : 
neron'j but whilft they were executing the general's orders, a reli- 
7^/"*"?/ giotts panic fcized the army, occafionedbyTheron's monu- 
Hgku^/ raent being deftioyed by a thunderbok; which, by the ad- 
vice of the foothfayers, put a ftop to the defign. Soon after, 
the plague broke out in the army, and in a (hort time 
ried off a great number df the foldiers, and Hanni- 
bal himfelf. The Carthaginian foothfayers interpreted 
his difader as a punifhment inflicted by the gods in re- 
venge of the injuries done to the dead. Nay, fome of 
the foldieris upon guard affirmed, that they faw in the night- 
time the ghofts of the deceafed. Wherefore Imilcar, hav- 
ing, as he imagined, atone^ for the facrileges of Hannibal j 
and pacified the gods, by ordering the demolition of the 
tombs to be difcontinued, renewed the aflaults with more 
vigour than ever. He filled the river with rubbifli clofe to 
the walls, by which means his engines were brought nearer 
the place; and played upon the town in fuch a manner, as 
reduced the befieged to great diftrefs "*. 

In the mean time the Syracufans, taking into confidera- 
tion the deplorable condition of Agrigentum, and fearing it 
would undergo the fate of Himera and Selinus, began to 
n^SjfA' think carrteftly of marching to its relief. Having therefore 
eufansftnd ^rawn together the forces of their confederates from Italy 
tblh7"^im *^^ MefTana, and being joined by the Camarineans, Ge- 
u raife tkt l^ans, and others out of the heart of the country, upon a 
J^gt\ review of their troops they found them to amount to above 

thirty thoufand foot and five thoufand horfe. Thefe judg- 
ing fufficient for their purpofe, they gave orders to Daph- 
neus their general to advance at the head of them irnme- 
diately into the territory of the Agrigentines ; a fleet of 
thirty gallies, which failed clofc by ihe ihore, at the fame 
v>ht€hii time keeping pace with him. Imilcar, upon intelligence of 
^ItCar- ^^^^^ approach, detached a ftrong body of troops to give 
sAagiaiartsi them battle in the plains of the river Himera. In confe- 
kut defeatt quence of thefe orders, and the approach of the Syracufans, 
ihim. a general adion foon enfued. After a (harp difpute, the 

Syracufans worded the Carthaginians, and purfued them 
tp the walls of Agrigentum : but Daphneus, fearing left 
Imilcar ihould take advantage of the confufion his troops 

^ Diodon Sicul. ubi fupra. 

were 



The Hifiary of the CarihaginioHS^ 299 

were thrown into by their eagernefs in tne purfuit, and 
thereby wreft the vi<^ory out of his bands, as had formerly 
happened to the Himereans on the like occafion, rallied 
them, and marched after the fugitives in good order to the 
fpot they were before encamped upon, which he took im- 
mediate poflei&on of. The Carthaginians loft fix thoufand 
men in this a£lion "• 

The Carthaginians erca|:>ed a total defeat, either through TJig^gri*^ 
the fear or corruption of the Agrigentine commanders : for ge/ttifie 
.the befieged, feeing them fly to that part of their camp that command* 
lay next to the town in the utmoft confuGon, immediately '^/^^J^jt 
concluded that they were routed 5 and therefore preffed j^p ^^i^f^ 
their oflicers to fally out upon them without lofs x)f time, occafions 
that they might complete their ruin. They were, however, thi lofs of 
deaf to thefe folicitations, and would not permit a nian to. ^htflact. 
ftir out of the town. To what motive fuch an unaccount- 
able procedure was to be attributed is hard to fay ; how<« 
ever, the fugitives were hereby faved, and arrived fafe in 
their other camp. This fatal ftep could never afterwards 
be retrieved, but was followed by the lofs of the city. 

Upon Daphneus's arrival, a great pai;t of the garrifon* 
with Dexippus at the head of them, waited upon him, and 
a council of war was immediately h^ld. Every individual 
expreflied his difpleafure, that ib fair an opportunity had 
'been loft. Great difputes arofe, infomuch that four of the Amuiin^*^ 
Agrigentine commanders, at the inftigatlbn of Menes, a 'whenim • 
Camarinean, were ftoned by the enraged multitude, and a -^^J^^ 
fifth, called Argcus, only on account of his youth, efcapcd. t^anders' 
Dexippus himfelf was likewife highly refle^ed upon, and artfiontd. 
loft much of the reputation he had before acquired. After and a fifth 
the council broke up, Daphneus formed a defign to attack ^^^ro^hf 
Imilcar's camp; but finding it ftrongly fortified, he altered 'f^^P^'' 
his refolution. However, having blocked up the avenues j^Hgarm 
to if, the Carthaginians foon found themfelves reduced to great 
fuch diftrefs for want of provifions, that part of their army firaitt 
began to mutiny: but Imilcar foon after intercepting a large f^*" ^^.^ .. 
Syracufan fleet, laden with provifions, of which he funk ^L^^^'* 
eight (hips, and drove the relt on (hore, this event altered 
the face of aflTairs. The Carthaginians were relieved, and 
the Agrigentines reduced to the laft extremity ; for, at the 
beginning of the ficge, when ill fuccefs attended the Car- 
thaginians, they had wafted their corn and other provifions. 
They were alfo deferted by the Campanians in their fervice, 
vho^ for fifteen talents, went over in a body to the Car- 
thaginians. Dexippus tbt Lacedaemonian likewife, accord- 

* Piod. SiCt ubt Aipra* 

ing 



jt(j8 ^he Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 

mg to Diodorus, was faid to have been bribed with the fame 
fum ; for he advifed the Italian commanders to withdraw 
their troops from the town, infinuating, that they were 
likely to be ftarved there; whereas, by retiring in time, they 
might carry on the war to greater advantage in fome other 
part. They complied with this advice, and left the Agri- 
gentines to (hift for themfelves ^. 
Jmllcar The Syracufans foon after abandoning the place, Imilcar 

enttrsthi entered it, and put all the inhabitants to the fword, not 
^f^* fparjng even fuch as had fled to the temples. Amongthcfc , 

was Gellias, a citizen famous for his wealth, munificence, 
and integrity, who fet fire to the temple of Minerva, and 
confumed in the flames both himfelf and the immenfe riches 
of that ftatcly edifice. Gellius, according to Diodorus, was 
induced to this a£tion in order to prevent three evils : firfl:, 
the impietjf of the enemy to the gods ; fecondly, the facri- 
Icgious pillage of the vaft treafure lodged there*, and, thirdly, 
the abufe of his own body p. 
mndpil' Imilcar, having pillaged every part of the city, found 

lages t*very himfelf mader of an immenfe treafure, the fpoils of a city, 
fart of h, which was one of the mod opulent in Sicily. To give our 
readers fome idea of Agrigentum, it will be fufficient toob- 
ferve, that the very fcpulchral monutaents (hewed the luxury 
and magnificence of this city, they being adorned with fta- 
tues of birds and horfes, remarkable for their elegance. * 
Bfnpedo' Empedocles the philofopher, born in Agrigentum, men- 
cles^sfay-' tions a memorable obfervation of his fellow-citizens : *' The 
^Mrtzeu" Agrigentines fquandered away their money fo exceffively 
!<«//. every day, that they fecmed to believe it could never be ex-i 

hauited ; and built with fuch folidity and magnificence, as 
if they thought they fliouki live for ever." The moft va- 
luable part of the plunder, together with the famous bull 
of Phalaris, Imilcar fent to Carthage \ every thing elfe b^ 
caufed to be fold under the fpear <J. 

The people of Syracufe, being prodigioufly alarmed at 
the taking of Agrigentum, pafled a decree for raifing a nu- 
merous body of troops to oppofe the progrefs of the Car- 
thaginians, who with a powerful army hovered upon the 
frontiers. Imilcar, ujpon his redudlion of the place, put 
his troops into quarters of refrefhment, that they might be 
ready to enter upon a£lion early the following fpring. The 
Agrigentines made great complaints againfl the Syracufan 
commanders, as if they had betrayed Agrigentum into the 
enemy's hands. This clamour raifed fuch difturbances in 

* Diod. Sic. ubi fupra. P Idem ibic). ^ |dem ibid. & Cic< 
lib. iv. in Vcr.'cap. 33, 



The Hiftbry of the Carthaginians. 299 

Syracufe as gave Dionyfius at laft an opportunity of feiz* 
ing upon the foveroign power. That tyrant afterwardsi 
proved a great fcourge both to his own fubjedts and the 
Carthaginians ^ 

The Gcleans, receiving intelligence that the Carthagi- 
nians intended to open the. campaign with the fiege of their 
city, and in the mean time quarrelling among themftlves^ 
implored the prote£lion of Syracufe ; upon which Diony- T^e Sjra» 
fius immediately marched to their affiftance with two thou- <it/ans 
fand foot and four hundred horfe. The Geleans were fo /'"^ ^'^' 
well fatisfied with his conduQ, that they treated him with ^J'yj^ 
the higheft marks of dtilindiion, and even fent dmbafTadors people of 
to Syracufe to return thanks for the important fervice that Gila* 
city had done them in fending him thither. Soon after he 
was appointed generaliffimo of the Syracufan forces, and 
thofe of their allies, againft the Carthaginians. This 
ftation enabled him to exhibit many proofs of his great ca« 
pacity both in civil and military affairs. 

The Carthaginian forces, under the command of Imilcar^ 
having, on the return of fpring, rafed the city of Agrigen- 
tum, made an incurfion into the territories of Gela and 
Camarina ; and, after having ravaged them in a dreadful 
manner, carried ofFfuch an immenfe quantity of plunder as 
filled their camp. Imilcar then marching with his whole ImiUar 
army againft Gela, took poft on the banks of the river Gela; marches 
there ordering his men to cut down all the trees about the ^''^ ^'^ 
town, he fortified his camp with a ditch and a wall, not V^^a^' 
.doubting but Dionyfius would come to the relief of the be- aia, 
Ceged with a powerful army. The Geleans defended their 
^own in a very gallant manner, making fcveral fuccefsful 
fallies, and repairing the walls when the Carthaginian rams 
bad made a breach in them. In fliort, they behaved with and meets 
fuch refolution, that though their city vyasbut indifferently withavi* 
.fortified, they held out a long time againft a formidable gorous re^ 
army, without receiving the leaft affiftance from their allies'. Z^^*^^- 

In the mean time Dionyfius, by the junftion of his mer- Dionyfius 
cenaries, and fuccours from Magna Graecia, with the Syra- ad*vances 
cufans, almoft every one of whom, capable of bearing 'f '^^ '"'" 
arms, he obliged to lift under his ftandard, formed an army q^ 
of fifty thoufand foot, according to fome, though Timaeus 
Siculus makes them only thirty thoufand, and a thoufaad 
horfe. With thefe forces, and fifty fail of fliips, he advanc- 
ed to the relief of Gela, and encamped near the fea, that his 
fleet and army might aft in concert. With his light-armed 
troops he propofed to prevent the enemy from foraging, 

f DIod. Sic* fibi fupfa. *. Idet^ ibid« 

whilft 



$00 



hitams a- 
hand^n thi 
fiaei. 



Dicnyjius 
feeuris 
thiir ri' 
treatf and 
that of hit 
army. 



Yr. of Fl. 

1944- 
AiTt€ Chr. 

404. 

Imilcar 
plundet^s 
Gtla and 



Camentia, 
A peact 

€Otlfludtd 

bettueem 
the Car- 
thaginians 
find DUnj^- 
Jius* 



the Hiftofy of the Catth^inians. 

VfhM his horfe and (hipping (hould intercept all prbviflofit 
coming to the Carthaginian camp fn»m any part of thi^ir 
dominions* This fcheme proving inefiedual, he attack)£d 
the Carthaginian campy but was repulfed withconfiderlible 
lofs. After this unfuccefsful attempt he fummoned a council 
of war» confiding of his particular friends, the fefult of 
vrhofe deliberations was, that fince the entmy Was fo much 
fuperior to them in ftrength, it would be highly imprudent 
to rifle the iifue of a battle ; and therefore, that the inhabit^ 
antsihouldbe perfuaded to abandon their country, a^ the 
only means to fave their lives. Accordingly a trumpet wa^ 
fent to Imilcar, to defire a ceflation of arms till the nett 
day, in order, Sis was pretended, to bury the d^ad^ but iii 
reality to give the people of Gela an opportunity of making 
thdr efcape. Towards the beginning of the night moftof 
the citizens left the place, and himfelf with the army fol- 
lowed them about midnight. To amufe the enemy he left 
two thoufand of his light*armed troops behind, command« 
ing them to make fires all night, and fet up loud (hoots, as 
though the army dill remained in the town. At day-breaft 
thefe took the fame route, and purfued their march witH 
great celerity. By thefe ftratagems Dionyfius preferved th^ 
inhabitants of Gela from infult| and fecured the retreat of 
his army. 

Imilcar, finding the city defcrted by the greateft part of 
its citizens, the garrifoxi, andSyracufan army, immediately 
put to the fwora or crucified all that fell into his bands. 
He likewife plundered it, in the fame manner as Agrigen- 
tum, and then moved with his forces towards Camarina. 
Dionyfius had before drawn off the Camarineans, with their 
wives and children, to 8yracufe, by ^pprifing them of Imil- 
car*s fpeedy approach. Their city underwent the fame fate 
with that of Gela ^ 

Imilcar, in the mean time, finding his army cxtremelyi 
weakened, partly by the cafualties of war, and partly by 
a plague which broke out in it, and not thinking himfelf 
in a condition to continue the war, fent a herald to Sy- 
racufe to offer terms of peace. His unexpefted arrival was 
tery acceptable to Dionyfius, and a treaty of peace was 
im,mediately concluded with the Carthaginians. The ar- 
ticles of it imported, that the Carthaginians, befides their 
ancient acquifitions in Sicily, fhould poffefs the countries 
of the Sicani, the Selinuntines, the Hirtiereans, and A- 
grigentines ; that the people of Gela and Camarina fllould 
be permitted to rcfide in their refpeftive cities, which no^ 



t Died. Sic.' ubi fupfa. 



with* 



Tbf Mfiory of the Carthaginians. 301 

Wiilifta&4ing tbould be difmantled, upon their ' paying SeO 
aixnua^l tribute to the Carthaginians; that the Leontinii 
Meflanians, and all the other Siciliang, (hould live accord/? 
ij>g to their own laws, and preferve their liberty and iixde* 
pcndencyi except the Syracufans, who £hould continue in 
iubje£tip|i to Dionyfius. Thefe articles were afterward^ 
ratified to the fatisfa^lion of both parties. About this time 
the plague made great ravages in Africa". , 

Before the Carthaginian army retired from Sicily, Imilcar 
fepara^ed the Campanians from the other troops, and lefe 
tbem to defend his conquefks in that iiland. Soon aftes Dionyfiut 
Dioayfius was reduced to fuch extremities by his fubjefts '« /«««- 
t)K Syracufans, that he was advifed either to kill himfelf,, '^'^^ f^V 
oc by one defperate effort force his way through the enemy's ^tXe^^e^ 
camp, and efcape to thofe places which were fubjefi: to the reignty at 
Carihaginians. But Philiftus the hiflorianj who for a con- Sjracuft. 
(^derable time bad fupported Dionyfjus, oppoiibd this ad«» 
vlce^ telling him, that he ought to refume his courage, an4 
either maintain bi^ifelf on the fbrone, or die in the attempt* 
The tyrant adopting the fentimei>ts of Pbiliftus, refolved to 
part with, life rather than the power he had acquired. In But dtli-' 
GonCequence of this refolution he difpatcbed an exprefs pri<^ 'veredfrem 
vatelf to the Campanians, and by large offers prevailed. ^^'»^' by 
upon* them to nvarch to his relief. By their affiftance he. ' ^*^* 
Iboii e^itricated himfelf from the difficulties in which he wa^ f ««««'• 
involved, and afterwards became a terror* both to bis owur 
f^jbjefls and the Carthaginians ''. 

Having difarmed tbe inhabitants of Syracufe, and by that jjg ^^|^^ 
ftep confirmed his fovereignty, he began to make the n^^. prepara- 
ceflary preparations for renewing the war with the Carthagi- tiomfor a 
luai^. For he had ftruck up the late peace with ImilcarVo, »''w w«r 
fuddenly, with no other view than to amufe him till h^ had ^'^^^jLj, 
eftabliihed his authority* and fpund himfeif in a condition niansi 
tQ attack the Carths^inian conquefts in Sicilf with a power- 
ful army. The motives that feem immediately to have ex* 
cited him to this war, were two 2 firft, to prevent the fu- 
ture defertion of his fubje^ls, many of whom retired every 
day, with all their effects, to the Carthaginian garrifons, as . 
viell as to recover thofe he had loft, fince he imagined, 
tliat upon a rupture, the cruel treatment of tbe Carthagi**^ 
nians. would drive them from thence. And fecondly, the 
^eat profpe^ of fuccefs he Ciitercained at that particular 
Janfture, on account of the deplorable ravages the plague, 
then made in tbe Carthaginian territories. As he knew tbe^ 
Carthaginians to be tbe moft potsa^ xiatioin in the Weft,. 

« Diod. Sic, ut;^ fifpfa^ ^' Ibi<k.Ub* aiV • cap. 3* 

and ^ 



'go^ The Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 

and that, if an opportunity offered, they would mod cer- 
andforti' tainly bcfiege Syracufe, he fortified the hill Epipolae, which 
/ies the hill commanded the town. Ihis work he performed at a vaft 
£pipola^ expence, with the afliftance of fixty thoufand men, and fix 
thoufand yoke of oxen. Diodorus tells us, that on this oc- 
cafion the tyrant not only fuperintended every part of the 
work, but frequently worked hfmfelf, enduring as much 
hardfliip and fatigue as the poorcft labourer. By which 
means the workmen were infpired with fuch a fpirit of emu- 
lation and alacrity, that they laboured all day, and part of 
the night, and, which is almoft incredible, in-^wenty days 
finiflied a wall thirty furlongs in length, and of a propor* 
tionable height ; which being flanked with high towcrsr 
placed at proper diftances, and built of hewn (lone, render- 
ed the place almoft impregnable *. 

Having put his own city in a ftate of defence, he made 
preparations fuitable to the undertaking he was going upon,' 
being very fenfible with how ' formidable a power he was 
foon to engage. As he found, that mercenaries came 
flocking from all parts, his intention was to have them all 
armed after the manner of their refpeftive countries, ima- 
gining that by thefe means they would be more capable of 
diftinguifliing themfelves, and of ftriking a terror into the 
enemy. He therefore prepared an hundred and forty 
thoufand bucklers, the fame number of fwords and hel- 
mets, fourteen thoufand cuiraflfes; befides other arms in 
abundance, of various forms, a large train of battering en- 
gines, and an infinite number of darts. The art of making 
fiich engines was, according to Diodorus, now firft brought 
to Syracufe ; but the artificer's nanie is not recorded- As 
he was ambitious of being fuperior to the Carthaginians by 
fea, he caufed a vaft quantity of timber for building his gal- 
lies to be brought from Italy. Mount ^tna alfo fupplied 
him with many fir and pine trees, with which it then' 
abounded. Having provided the ne<}efiary materials, he 
employed fuch a prodigious number of hands, that a flc<:t 
of two hundred fail was foon ready for fea; to which he 
added a hundred and ten old gallies, that were thoroughif ■ 
repaired. He likewife caufed an hundred and fixty diftina 
receptacles to be made round the harbour, for flieltering 
bis fleet from the weather, which would contain two fhips 
a-piece ; and covered them with the planks of a hundred 
and fifty old ufelefs veflTels. The Syracufans themfelves 
manned half of the capital fhips> and- the reft were navigat- 
ed by foreigners whd had entered intb Doxtyfius's fervice- 

- * Piod.8ic. lib. xi¥<^e9ip. f.- _ 



7'he Hi/lory of the Carthaginians. 302 

We muft not omit obfcrving, that DionyGus is (aid by Dio- 
dorus to have invented the quinqueremes about this time ^. 

The tyrant, having (inifhed his military preparations both Hi ac- 
hy fea and land, and finding his army in a condition to take quaints tht 
the field, thought proper to impart his defign to the Syra- ^J^^^'^', 
cufans. He accordingly convened the fenate, and com- hiidefLn, 
municated his intention to them of attacking the Carthagi- 
nian territories inftantiy, and even without a previous 
declaration of war. The afiembly, moved by a pathetic 
fpeech he made on this occafion, and influenced by the 
views of policy more than the dictates of juftice, readily 
concurred in his opinion. War was therefore unanimoufly 
agreed on ; and meafures were immediately taken for com- 
mencing hoililities* 

Upon breaking up of the afiembly, Dionyfius abandoned He falls 
to tjie fury of the populace the perfons and poflTeffions of the ^^^l^^^. 
Carthaginians, who refided in Syracufe, and traded on the ^^^^^ ^|" 
faith of treaties. As there were many of their (hips at that sidl^.\ 
time in the harbour, laden with cargoes of great value, the 
people immediately plundered them, and pillaged their 
boufes in a moft outrageous manner. This example of per- 
fidioufnefs and inhumanity was followed throughout the 
whole iiland of Sicily. The Greeks, inhabiting feveral 
cities under the jurifdidion of the Carthaginians, not fatis- 
fied with (tripping them of their effe£ls, thought themfelves 
fufficiently authorized to treat the bodies of thofe miferable 
wretches with the utmoft ignominy and barbarity. 

No power contributed fo much to the fupport of the Sy- 
racufans in this war, as the Lacedaemonians. From Sparta 
Dionyfius received as many recruits as were nece(rary for 
completing his troops ^ which, becaufe he apprehended the> 
war with Carthage would be long and bloody, he refolved 
ihould be very numerous. That he might be entirely at He con- 
liberty to a6t againft the common enemy with all his forces, eludes a 
he concluded a peace with the Rhegians and MeflTanians. ^f*^« 7*"^* 
To engage the latter more firmly in his intercfts, he ceded i^m and 
a large extent of territory. This he judged not ill beftow- Mejfani' 
ed at fuch a critical conjunfture. For the Me(ranians^ be- ans^ 
ing a fea-faring people, and pretty powerful, would have . 
given no fmall diverfion to his arms, had they joined with 
ihe Carthaginians *. 

Dionyfius finding the vaft projeft he had formed now 
fipe for execution, difpatched a herald to Carthage, with a 
letter to the fenate and people, importing, that, if they 
did not immediately withdraw their garrifons from all the 

r Piod. Sic. ubi fup. cap^ 7* z Idem ibid. 

t Greek 



304 



tkagittiaMS 

Uvyforcis 
to oppofi 
Dionyfiuu 



Dionjjitu 

Motya* 



Himilco 

fends ten 

galltes 

from Car* 
tha^it to 
dtflroy the 
nftjfeh in 

She harbour 
of$jracufe* 



The Uifiory of the Carthaginians, 

Greek cities in Sicily, the people of Sjracofe would treat 
them as enemies. This letter being firft read in the fenate^ 
and afterwards in the afiembly of the people, occafioned a 
general alarm at Carthage, which the plague had reduced 
to a miferaUe condition. However, though in want of all 
necelTaries, they were not intimidated, but fent officers in- 
to Europe, with conGderable fum*9, to raife troops with the 
vtmoft diligence. In the mean time they dtipatched oiders 
to their garrifons in Sicilf, to bbferve the motions of the 
Syraeufan army 3 and appomeed Himilco commander in 
chief of all their forces ^ 

Dionyfius, without watting for the anfwer of the Car- 
thaginians, iA purfutdince of the plan he had laid down, ad^ 
vanced with his army towards mount Eryx, near which 
ftood the city of Moty^, a Carthaginian colony of great 
eminence. This town was defended by a citadel of vaft 
ftrength, and mi^ht be juftly eftcemed as the Icey of Sicily. 
The pedtidion of it therefore, the tyrant very well knew, 
would be a confiderable blow given the* Carthaginians. He 
was joined'on his march by the Greeks of Gela, Cam^rina^ 
Agrigentum, Htmera, and Selinus, out of the ardent de- 
fire they had to recover their liberties, and (hake off the 
Carthaginian yoke. The Motyans, from their attachment 
to the Carthaginians, expe£^ed the ftorm would fall upon 
them ; but, in hopes of relief from Carthage, they were 
fefolvod to defend themfelves to the laft extremity. In this 
city the Carthaginians kept all their ftores and provifions ; 
Dionyfius, therefore, beGeged it in form ; and, having kft 
his brother Leptineff to carry on the attacks, marched with 
the greater part of his army, to reduce the cities in alliance 
with the Carthaginians. He dtftroyed the territories of the 
Solantines, Panormitans, and Ancyreans, with fire and 
fword, and cut down all their trees. Then he invefted 
Egefta and Entclla, moft of the other towns having opened 
their gates at his approach. But they baffling all his efforts, 
he returned to Motya, and puflied on the fiege of that place 
with the utmoft vigour. ' 

In the mean timeHimilcoordercd his admiral to fail from 
Carthage with ten gallies, and deftroy all the vefiels he 
(hould find in the harbour of Syracufe. The admiral, pur- 
fuant to his orders, entered the harbour in the night, with- 
out being difcovered by the enemy; and, having funk moft 
of the (hips he found there, returned to Carthage without 
the lofs of a man •*. 



* Diod. Sic. ubi fup. cap. /• 



b Idem ibid* 



Though 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians. ' 305 

TTiough theMotyans found themfclves greatly annoyed by 
Dionyfius*s ratns, and the continual vollies of arrows and 
(tones difcharged from his catapults, an engine at that time 
of late invention, they made a very gallant defence. They 
pofted foldiers, armed in coats of mail, upon the mails of 
their (hips, who threw down burning firebrands, and tow- 
dipped in pitch, upon the engines, which immediately fet 
them on fire. - But the Sicilians extinguifhed the flames, Dionyjtus 
made feveral large breaches in the walls, and aflTaulted the ^"''"^/i '* 
town with fuch fury, that they bore down all before them, y^"* 
The conteft now was extremely bloody ; for the bcfiegers, ' 
thinking themfelves fure of carrying the place, and being 
defirous of taking vengeance of the enemy for the barbarous 
treatment their nation had formerly received, fought with 
incredible fury : and, on the other liand, the befieged, 
knowing they muft fall vi6i:ims to an implacable and en- 
raged enemy, if the town was taken by ftorm, refolved to 
die valiantly in the defence of the place, and therefore be- 
haved like' men in defpair. - At laft, however, the Sicilians 
prevailed, and entered the city fword in hand, thinking' 
they flibuld now fpeedily itccompHQi their defign. But in 
this expeftation they found themfelves deceived ; for the 
'Motyans |iad finilhed a fortification at the foot of the walls, 
of equal ftrength with the w^lls themfelves, which there 
was a necefRty of carrying, before Dionyfius could make 
himfelf maftcr of the place. The befieged therefore, after hav- 
ing been obliged to abandon the walls, betook themfelves to 
the deffrnce of this, and gave the Sicilians a warmer recep- 
tion here than'thcy had met with before, dcftroying vaft 
numibers from the top of the fortification, and the roofs of 
the adjeihing houfes. However, the Sicilian towers being 
of a va-ft height, by their afEftance the bcfiegers advanced 
their icaling-ladders to the neighbouring houfes, and fought 
hand to hand with the befieged. The difpute now was ex- 
tremely fh^ip and obdinate : for the Motyans having new 
life and vigour infufed into them by the fight of their wives 
and children, who, in cafe of any difafter, they knew 
would be treated in the fame barbarous manner, as th^ir 
countrymcn,'taken prifoners by the Greeks, had alreadybeen, 
refolved either to conquer or die. They ruflied therefore 
with a fury little inferior to njadncfs into the midft of their 
enemies ; threw infinite numbers of them headlong frohi the 
fcaifolds they had ereded; and repulfed Dipnyfius with 
fuch flaughtcr, that he was at laft obliged to found the 
Tctreat.. 

The attack was repeated for feveral days fucceffively ia 

the fame manner, but without any cfiTedi 5 for the Mocyansi 

Vol. XV. X being 



|56 The Hijlory sftbe Carthaginians. 

Yr. of Fl. ^1^ accuftomcd to this way of fighting, conftand^ repvit 
i9S»« ed Dionyfius, obliging him. every evening to retire* At 
A.C. 396. jj^f^ Archylus the Tburian, at the head of a chofen detach- 
- . ment, in the dead of night, getting over the {hattere4 

rti^^rf* houfes without noife, pofiefled himfelf of a very commo- 
fmif^di dious poft, where he made a lodgment, till Dionyfius feot 
hustia/l another ilronff body of troops to fupport him* The 
tukestkt Motyans, finding themfelves furprifed, made their utmoft 
Uwu* efforts to diflodge the enemy, fo that a fierce encounter en- 
fued. But at lad the Siciliana, overpowering them with 
numbers, gave Dionyfius an opportunity of ruihing into 
the city like a torrent with his whole army. Every part of 
the town was in a moment covered with dead bodies ; for 
the Sicilians, to retaliate the former cruelties of the Cartba* 
ginians, put all the inhabitants to the fword, except thofc 
who took fan£luary in the Greek temples* DioayGus, be- 
ing defirotts of felling them for Saves, in order to bring 
money into his coffers, and not being able to reftrain the 
violence of the foldiery, ordered the public crier to de^ 
clare, that he would have the Motyans fly for refuge thi* 
ther. This expedient put a ftop to the ilaughter; how* 
ever, the army plundered the town, carrying off an imnieniir 
quantity of wealth and treafure. After the redu£lion of 
Motya, the tyrant ordered I^eptines to make incurfions is* 
to the territories of Entella and Egefta,^ be not being m a 
condition at that time to form the fiege of tbofe places \ and 
then returned, with his army, to Syiacu£s ^. 

The Carthaginians, having been furprifed by DionyCoSi 

hi breach of the faith of treaties^ found it impoi&ble to fores 

him to raife the fiege of Motya. However, they were will* 

ing to attempt not only this, but even to carry the war to 

Syracufe. For t)iis^ purpofe, Himilcp^ receiving advice^ 

that Dionvfius with his fleet had entered the faaibour, gan 

orders to have a hundred of bis beft gallies manned imme« 

diately. With thefe, as the Syracufans had no fqusdroa 

out at fea, to obftru£t his defign, he entertained hopes 

either of deftroying or making himfelf maftcr of the tyranVi 

whole naval force by furprize at one fingte blow. 

Mhmk9 Setting fail from Carthage, he arrived in the night ob 

makes an ||^ QQ2A of Selinus, and next morning, by break of day, at 

^^}J^ the port of Motya, where the Syracufan gallies were riding 

^imfius's »^ anchor. Thefe he immediately attacked, and fomc ol 

/(madrun in them he deftroyed. Dionyfiusi, alarmed at this unexpeA^ 

mAarhnr vifit of thcicnemy, and fe^ingi by tbedifpofiticms they were 

^sjracnjt. making, his whole fleet in danger of being deftroyed, s4" 



. * Biod* Sic ubi fup». 

vssccd 



fbe Hi^ry of the Carthdgtnidti: f^ 

^ncecE with his army to the mouth of the harlKnir \ but 
finding diat the Carthagiaians had poflefled themfelves of 
the paflage^ he iooked Upon it as too hazardous an attempt 
to ftanxl out to feA i becaufe the mouth being harrow, a 
few gallies might engage a much fuperior number with 
great a-dvantage. He corhmanded^ therefore, his land* 
forces to draw them over land intd the fea, at a farther 
diftance from the harbour \ and bj this contrivance they 
were preferved. . ' 

la the mean time Himiico^ p^^^llt ^^oti thofe galliei^ 
that lay liext to him, thade all poffible efforts to take o^ 
deftroy them \ but was Yigoroufly repulfed, and toft man^ 
of his men by fhowers of d^a thrown from the deck^. 
The Syracufan army likewife greatly annoyed him^ by re* 
peated vollics of arrows from their battering engines^ 'Hi-* 
milco therefore, finding that he could not bring his enters 
prize to bear^ and judgitfjj^ it imprudent tq venture an en*^ 
gagement with a fquadron fo nmch fupeiior to him iti 
ftrength, left the Motyans to themfelves, and returned t6 
Africa ^ , , "\ 

In the foiiowing fpring iMohyfiud, drawing his^^o^c<*8 out 6hny^ . 
of Syracufe, made an inroad into the Carthaginian territo^ makii^k . 
ries, ravaging and deftroying the country in a dreadful ^*^'''''' '*'* 
toannet. The Halicyiteans, terrified by this irruption, fent J^' ^%lji 
ambaffiidots to the tyrant's camp to implore his prot^£lian y u^^u 
but the inhabitants of Egefta, remaining firm in their fide- 
lity to Carthage^ fet him at defiance. He therefore ad^ 
vaoeed with his army» and laid fi^e to the pi^ce } but the 
Egeftines making a vigorous and uneicpe£led fally upon thtf 
befiegers, put the advanced guards in difordert, aUd fet fird 
to their tents ; a circumftance which occafiohed great con-:^ * 
fietns^ion throughout the camp. Several foldieirs, endea-> 
touring to extinguiffa the flames^ loft their Hves^ and many 
horfes were burnt. DionyfinSf foon after raifing the fiege« 
feoured the country in the fame hoftile manner as before | 
iind, whilft Leptines was obferving the motions of thtf 
enemy by fea^ continued bis depredations without oppQ« 
Gtion. 

Soon after the redu£^ion of Motya, intelligence (tf that 
Bielancholy event arrived at Carthage ; and the year follow* 
ing Himilco was appointed one of the fufFet^s. The pro^ 
grefs of Dionyfius's arms alarming the fenate, they refotliej 
to do their utmoft to make head againft him ; and there<< 
fore difpatched ofiicers into ail parts of Africa and Spain t^ 
wife forces. When they had completed their preparations^ 

^ Polyaen. lib. v* ctf . ex, I. 

Xa they 



/ 



jofr The Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 

they found their army to confift of above three hundred 
thoufand foot, four thoufand horfe^ and four hundred 
armed chariots. The fleet, under the command of Mago, 
was compofed of three hundred gallies^ and more than fix 
hundred (hips of burden laden with provifions -and engines 
of war. This is the account given by Ephoriis : whereas 
Tinisus affirms, that not above a hundred thoufand Car- 
thaginians a£ked in SiciJy this campaigii ; but that thefe, 
upon their landing, were joined by three thoufand Sicilians. 
After the troops were embarkedi the tranfports (landing 
out to fea, outfailed the gallies, which kept clofe to the 
coaft of Africa, and^ without any memorable accident, ar- 
5^''*"a rived' off Panormus. But, being deftitute of a convoy, they 
emtmh ' ^^^^ attacked by Leptines, whom Dionyfius had fent out 
jg^ with thirty fail againft them for this purpofe. After a ftiort 
difpute, the Syracufan admiral funk fifty of them, with five 
thoufand men and two hundred chariots on board ; but 
vpon the approach of the Carthaginian gallies he retired. 
Himilc0« therefore, landed his troo{$s at Panormus without 
jheCMr"^ oppofition, feized upon Eryx, and advancing to.Motya» 
r^Jf reduced it, before Dionyfi^us could fend any forces to its 
Mi9t^i relief ^ . 

* The Sieilkh troops were very eager for venturing a battle 

with the Carthaginians, in order to decide the fate of Si- 
cily as foon as poffible ; but Dionyfius thought it more ad- 
vlfable to abandon the open country to the enemy^ becaufe 
he was at a great diftance fW)m his tallies, and began to be 
in want of provifions. He exhorted the Sxcani to leave 
their cities, and join the army, promifing them, after the 
conclufion of the war, a richer and more fertile country 
than their own ; and even, to permit as many as were in- 
clined, to return to their .former habitations. Some few, 
for fear of being plundered, liftened to his propofal ; but 
the greateft part of them deferted to Himilco, together with 
^he: Halicyscans, who fent ambafiadors to Carthage, to re- 
new their ancient alliance with that Aate. Dionyfius, dif- 
appointed in the reinforcements he expefied, marched with 
great precipitation to Syracufe, plundering the country 
through which he paifed. Himilco -then advanced to 
Meflana, with an intention to pofiefs himfelf of it ; fince 
the haven being capable of receiving all the Carthaginian 
.fle^t, confiding of above fix hundred fail, would be a very 
commodious nation. Before he invefted the town, he 
concluded a treaty with the people of Himera and Cepha- 

e Diodor. Sic* Iibi fupra. Polysen* Strat* lib. v. cap. lo. ex. s« 
Frontin. Strat. lib* i. cap.j. ex* 2* 

loediamj 



The Hiftpry of the Carthaginians. 



3^^ 



loedlum, and reduced the city of Lipara (G), the capital of 
the ifland of that name, laying it under contribution, by 
which he exafted from the inhabitants thirty talents. Mov- and ad' 
ing with his forces towards MefTana, his fleet at the fame 'oance of- 
time attending him, he encamped upon the promontory of '''^^^' 
Peloris, now the Capo di Faro, about a hundred ftadia * vf^^ 
from that city. When the inhabitants heard of the ap- 
proach of the Carthaginians, they could not agree about the 
meafures to be taken on that occafion. Some, confidering 
the great want of their horfe, which were then at Syracufe, 
knowing that the walls were in a ruinous condition, and 
that they had not time to make the neceflfary preparations 
for their defence, were for fubmitting to the enemy. 
Others had fo great an' averfion to the Carthaginians, that 
they were refolved to defend the place to the laft extremity^ 
rather than fubrhit to fuch barbarians ^ 

In order to prevent any incurfions of the enemy, the* 
people of Meflana fent a ftrong detachment, confiding of 
the. flower of their troops, towards the promontory of Pe- 
loris, who for fome time defended the frontiers. But Hi- Hr/tick^ 
milco, juftly concluding, that the garrifon muft be greatly place HU 
weakened by the abfence of this detachment, and that the ^''jj^ ^•^ 
city was thereby left fo very much expofed on the fea-fide, **'^'* 
that it would be no difficult matter for his fleet to enter the 
port, commanded two fiundred gallies to advance towards 
the towji. His orders were inftantly obeyed, and, a north 
wind at that time blowing frefli, they were carried with a 
full fail direftly into the harbour. The MeflTanians, being 

f Diod. Sic. ubi fupra. 



(G) Lipara was tbe prin- 
cipal of the iSolian iflands, in 
number feven, not far from the 
northern coail of Sicily. The 
names o£. thefe iflands were 
Strongyle, Evonymos, Didyme, 
Phcenicufa, Hiera, Vulcania, 
and Lipara ( i ) . According to 
Diodorus, both the ifland Li- 
para, and its capital <:ity, re- 
ceived their name from Lipa- 
ru8, the fon of Aufon (2), king 
of thefe iflands, who built the 
city Lipara, and cultivated all 



of them. The Liparefe were 
anciently formidable, had a 
good fleet, and grew very richi 
by the great revenue brought 
them in by alum, with which 
mineral their'ifland (3) abound- 
ed. The ifland is now called 
Lipari, and has its capital fo 
fortified, that it flood a Ihort 
fiege in the year 1719, when it 
was taken by ah Imperial de- 
tachment under the command 
of general Seckendorf, 



(r)Strab. lib. vi. Diod. Sic lib. v. cap. i. Pomp. McK lib. ii, 
cap. 7. Strab.lib. vi. & alib. Plin. lib. iii. cap. 9'. (a) Diod« 

Sic. ubi fuprat (3} Strab, Plin. $c Diod* Sic. ubi fupra* 

X 3 now 



\ 



.|ie Tbi IT^ory of the Carthaginians. 

Tiow fenfiUe of their miftake, rec3ille<l their detachment | 
but it' was too late ( for t)ie fleet had already entered, and^ 
having a great number of engines on board, battered 
down the walls on that fide ; upon which the inhabitantt 
, . faaftened in crouds to defend the breaches, leaving the 
M t0§fs ^j^^^ pztis of the wail entirely unguarded. Himilco took 
advantage of this coiifufion, and, attacking the city on the 
land-fide, entered it without c^pofition. Then, in ordef 
tp render his conqued complete, he propofed to reduce all 
the forts and caftles in the neighbourhood j but upon tak-* 
ing a view of them, and finding them extremely ftrong, he 
altered his defign, and returned to Meflana, which he foon 
^fter levelled with the grounds 
}S»JI$fth0 The Siculi holding Dionyfius in utter deteftation, and a 
1!^/'' ^^^^ opportunity now offering of fliaking off their allegiance| 
^imfiiu, ^^^ of them, except the Affarine«, revolted to the Carthagi-», 
^' ' iiians, Dionyfius, thus deprived of the means of raifing 
recruits, was obliged to preient all the (laves and fervants of 
the Syracufans with their liberty, and with them he manned 
fixty gallies. He received likewife a reinforcement of a 
thoufand men from the Lacedaemonians, hi% ancient and 
faithful allies. £i(pe£ling that the enemy would advance 
into his territories'^ he fortified the caHlles and forts of the 
Syracufans, and the cities in their dependence, and to (lore 
them with provifions, Tbbfeof Leontini, which were hii| 
principal magaeines, he rendered extremely ftro#)g, and 
perfu^ded the Campanians to ien^e Catana, the place he had 

J;iven them to reficfe in, apd remove tp the city of j£tiia, a , 
orfrefs of great ftrength, fpr their farther fccurity K 
Nofiyitk' Dionyfius, upon 4 review of hi^ land-forces, found thern 
^^li^h^k ^^^^^ thoufand footj^ and ^bove three tbogifand horfe, 
adnjancit W*^^ thefe he took the field, and encamped near a place 
tonvurds galled Taurus, about a hundred ^T\d fixty ftadia from Syra-* 
$Ai Car- pufe. His fleet, by the acceflion above mentioned, confiiled 
M^^w/^^K* pf a hundred and eighty gallies. Himilco, in the meau 
time, ordered Magp to wait for him at Cat^na.till he fhould 
, be able to rejoin him with the land-forces, bionyfius, re^ 
cciving intelligence of this defign, ha{lened to e^i^age ^a? 
go, before that junftipn happened. 
fiiify^^M In the mean time, l^eptines was fent out by the tyrant 
pftiiiriht y^\^^ ^jjg whole Syracufan fleet againft Mago's fquadroni 

i/Ltphttij y^^^^^ K^ W^* commanded to engage in clofe order, and 
fngagf4 ^ not tp break his line upon any account wbatfoever : and 
fhaiofths indeed fuch a falutary cpmmand could not have been too 
Qartkagi" pu^^ftu^Uy obcyed at that junfturc, o^ acco^Qt pjf Mago'§ 

t Xf\(^^. 5ic. ubj fuprj^ 

flfcal 



ne Hifiofy of the Carthagimani^ 311 

great fupcriprity ; for his fleet was compofed of five hun- 
dred fhips of burden, befides a great number of galHes with 
brafen beaks. The Carthaginians at firft declined an en- 
jgagement \ but afterwards refoived to wait for the enemy* 
Their naval forces being divided, one part of them fell in , ' 
with thirty Syracufan galiies, commanded by Leptines; 
who likewife, in dire£l contradidion to his orders, had di- 
vided his fleet. During the adion, Mago arrived with the 
other part of the Carthaginian gallies, and immediately fur<- 
rounded Leptines ; upon which, notwithilanding the in- 
equality of numbers, a moft fliarp and bloody confiid en« 
fued. 

The Carthaginian and Syrapufan gallics grappling with 
each other, the forces on board fought hand to hand, as in 
a battle on land. They made the utmoft eflbrts on both 
iides to board their enemies, and confequently many were 
throvi^h overboard and flain. In 'fine, Leptines, though for aadisdn 
tcveral hours he defended hirofelf with ^reat valour, be- J^tid. 
ing overpowered, was obliged to -fly, valour being forced 
to give way to numbers. The Syracufans, therefore, re- 
ceived a total defeat ; nor were their troops, drawn up on 
the fhore, able to afford them the leaft relief. The Car- 
thaginians fuftained great lofs in this engagement, which, 
for a confiderable time, was very bloody. Of the Syracu- 
fan gallies, above a hundred were funk or taken, and more 
than twenty thoufand of their men killed Mn the battle or 
purfuit. After the a£lion, the Carthaginian fleet anchored 
at Catana, where they refitted the Syracufan (hips they ha<i 
taken'*. 

Upon this misfortune the Sicilians, apprehending they 
{hould be reduced to great diftrefs by returning to Syra- , 

cufe, and there fuftaining a fiege, folicited Dionyfius to 
fight Himilco : with* which propofal he feemed at firft Dipnyjiui 
willing to comply ; but afterwards confidering that, whilft returns 
he was carrying this proje£t into execution, Mago might wiMto 
poffefs himfelf of Syracufe, he altered his refalutionf. How- ^^r^^ 
ever, a great number of Sicilians, being difgufted at his , 
not approving their meafures, dcferted, and either retired 
to the neighbouring garrifons of the Carthaginians, or with- 
drew to their refpcftive homes "^ 

Himilco, in two days march, arriving at Catana, ordered Himlcoen* 
the (hips"' into the harbour, that they might be fheltered demf^Mrs 
from the weather, which was then very boifterous and '^ exdtf 
ftormy. Here he halted fome time to refrefli his troops, '^^f-«»- 
and fcnt ambafladors to the Campanians at -£tna, to excite ^j^l^a\o 

rtvoiim 
I'DiodonSic/ublfuprat 'Idem. ibid. 

X 4 them 



12 The Hijiory of' the Carthaginians. 



{; 



them to revolt, promifing tfaem large pofleffionst and that 
they fhould be equal iharers in all the fpoils taken from the 
Sicilians. That his promifes might make the deeper im- 
ireflion, he informed them^ that the Campanians of Entella 
lad declared for the Canhaginians, and joined them with a 
confiderable body of forces. In fhort, he defired them to 
confider, that the Greeks of every denomination bore an im- 
placable hatred to all other nations whatfoever. The Cam- 
panians were ftagge/ed by thefe promifes and fuggeftions ; 
but as tHey had given hoftages to Dionyfius, and fent the 
Jftower of their troops to Syracufe, they were obliged, con- 
trary to theil" inclination, to adhere to the treaty they had 
concluded. 
JJein<vifis The Carthaginian general, animated by the fuccefs that 
Sjracujf. attended his arms, advanced to Syracufe, the fleetundcr Ma- 
go at the fame time keeping pace with him. Upon Mago's 
arrival, the army, confifting of three hundred thoufand foot 
and three thoufand horfe, appeared on the other (ide, attend- 
ed likewife by an additional fquadron of two hundred capital 
(hips. Himilco, after making the proper difpofitions for at- 
tacking the town, offered the Syracufans battle, which they 
declined \ • ' 

Hi takes ly Before he formed the fiege he blocked up the city by 
fijfault tkt fea, and, in order to gain the affeftions of his troops, 
Juburbef ^8 well as to diftrefs the enemy, ravaged the country many 
Mradi»a» mJies round. He took by affault the quarter, or fuburb, 
of the town, called Acradina, where he plundered the rich 
temples of Ceres and Proferpina, and, in fliort, fucceeded 
in every meafure he purfued for haraiTing the befieged. In 
order to facilitate his approaches, and fortify his camp in 
the mod commodious manner, he ordered all the- toitibs 
which ftood round the city to be demoliflied, and, amongfl: 
others, that of Gelon and his wife Demarata, which was a 
monument of great magnificence* He erefled alfo three 
forts near the fea, at equal diftances from each other ; one at 
Plemmyrium, another about the middle of the port, and the 
third near the temple of Jupiter, in which he depofited vaft 
ftores of provifion, and all other ncceflaries that might en- 
;ible him to pufii on the fiege with vigour. In the mean 
time the Syracufans, though greatly diftreffed, did not de-r 
fpond ; Dionyfius being in daily expectation of receiving a 
confiderable reinforcement from his foreign allies. . 
Thi Can* Before the ftorm fqll upon Syracufe, Dionyfius had fent 
(ttwrZ!?li ^^^ kinfman, Polyxenus, to implor.e the afliftance of the 
tf^J Italians, Corinthians, and Lacedaemonians, againft the power 

k Piod* Sicul, ubi fupr^, 

of 



The Hiftory of the CarihagintanSi 3^ J 

of Carthage, which alone he found hinifelf unable -to with^ 
ftand* folyxenus returning fome time after Himilco had 
invefted Syracufe, brought with him, befides fome land- 
forces, a fupply of thirty gallies, under the command or 
PHaracidas the Lacedcemonian. Soon after Dionyfius and 
Leptines went out upon a cruize, intending, if poflible, to 
intercept fome of the Carthaginian tranfports laden with 
provifions, of which the. city then ftood in great want. 
They were fcarce out of port, when the Syracufans from 
the city defcried one of the tranfports coming up to Hi- 
milco*s ca-mp ; upon which, venturing out with five gallies, 
they took it. Meeting afterwards with a Carthaginian fqua- 
dron, they defeated it entirely, took feveral gallies, and 
funk or damaged many more. The Syracufans then faften- 
ing the gallies they had taken to the poops of their fliips, 
brought them off triumphantly into the town K 

Himilco, who from his firft arrival in the ifland to this 
tinie, had been fuccefsful in every meafure, and the con- 
fiant favourite of fortune in all his undertakings, was foon 
reduced to the lowed degree of ignominy and difgrace, and 
his people to the mod extreme mifery. All the fplendor 
of his anticipated triumph vanifhed in a moment, and fert- 
cd only to increafe.hi^ future misfortunes. 

Though now mafter of almoft the whole ifland of Sicily, ffigpiapug 
and expe£ling with great impatience to crown his other breaks out 
conquefts with the reduftion of Syracufe, he was obliged intheCarm 
to defift from all farther operations againft that city by the '^^f «'^ 
plague, which, breaking out in the camp, made great ha- ^"^^^ 
Yock amongft his foldiers. This infe£lion was confidered as 
a punifliment inflifted upon them by the gods for plunder- 
ing the teniples, particularly thofe of Ceres and Proferpina, • 
already mentioned, and demolifhing the tombs round the 
city, But without having recourfe to the extraordinary in- 
terpofition of the gods, they might have afcribed it to na- 
tural caufes : for the heats that fummer, in the midft of 
which this peftilential diftemper firft appeared, were more 
ei^ceffive than they had ever been known in the memory of 
man ; apd the adjacent country abounded with fens and 
tnarfhes, whofe unwholefome exhalations, efpecially at that 
hot feafon, which oFitfelf was almoft fufficient to have oc- 
Cafioned the plague, inuft have had a very ill effefl: upon 
the carap, where fuch an infinite number of people were 
crouded together, That thefe in fa£)t were the principal 
concurring caufes pf that dreadful malady, is apparent fron^ 
kcncc, that tbe Athenians, who fpared both temples and 

\ Plodori Sicul uhi fupra^ 

t'ombai 



J 1 1^ The Hjfiary of the Carthagtnians. 

tombs, h^d been, not long before, afflided witb the fame 
calamity. It began among the Africans) and foou fpread 
through the whole army ■• 

No relief could be had from the phyfician, this terrible 
diftemper eluding all his art; fo that thofe infe£led with it 
expired the fifth or (ixth day in exquifite torture. Juftin 
intimates, thatalmoft the whole Carthaginian army periihed 
by it, and as it were in an inftant \ which will give us fome 
idea of the great malignity of the difesife. Diodorus, how- 
ever, relates, that a confiderable body of Africans and 
Iberians furvived this dreadful peftilence : but at the fame 
time he affirms, that a hundred and fifty thoufand carcafes 
of thofe who periihed did not meet with interment, and 
confequently infinuates that a great number died. For he 
had before hinted, that the dead were buried for fame 
time after the breaking out of the infe£tion. It is worthy 
obfervation, that not a fingle perfon of thof<^ who attended 
the lick efcaped ". 
Dimffiiu Dionyfius, apprifed of the deplorable condition to which 
Attacks tht the Carthaginians were reduced, ordered Pfaaracidas and 
^J?V» «»</ Leptines to engage their fleet at break of day, while be at- 
2^'' fackcd the land-forces in the camp. With this view, hav- 
ing afiembled his troops before the moon was up, he ad- 
vanced to the temple of Cyane, and marching from thence 
gbout midnight, without being difcovered, took poft near 
the enemy by the time appointed. Soon after he fell with 
great fury upon the Carthaginian camp, and at the fame 
time attacked the forts which Himilco had ere£ted near the 
ihore. This attempt being unexpe£ted, the Carthaginians 
were furprifed, fo that he took the fort called Polichna by 
ftorm, before they could put thcrofelves iri a pofture of de- 
fence. His horfe likewife at the fame time advancing in 
good order, and being attended by fome gallies, carried that 
near Dafcon with little oppofition. The tedu£tion of tbefe 
two forts introduced the Syracufan gallies into the great ha- 
ven ; the confequence of which admittance was, the total 
ruin of the Carthaginian fleet. For the Carthaginian fhipSj 
not being able to fuftain the ihock of the Syradufan galliesi 
were moft qf them either taken, fimk, or difabled, at the 
firft attack^ And Dionyfius afterwards, moving at the head 
of a body of troops towards the gulph of Dafcon, found an 
Opportunity of burning forty large Carthaginian (hips, with 
^ great number of tranfports. According to Diodorus a 
pioft dreadful fcene was ^^Uiibited on this occaGon \ the 

n Diodor, Sicul. ubi fupra* > Juftin. £)>• xix. Ciodor. Sicul. 

VfsiiAipra. QrQf.Ub.iv*. 



« 



ods 



^e Hijiory of the Carthaginians. 315 

gWs tlrcmfdvcs, when the fliips were all in a blaze, and 
the Barnes afcending above the mails, feeming to deftroy 
the Carthaginians with lightning from heaven ; which that 
aathor infinuates they deferved for their great impiety. As 
many of Himilco's troops flew to the affiftancc of his fleet, 
Dionyfius broke into the Carthaginian camp, where he 
made a confiderablc flaughter \ but at the approach of night 
he found himfelf obliged to retire. However, he poued 
bimfelf near the Carthaginians, at the temple of Jupiter, 
with an intention to renew the battle early next morning •. 

In the mean time Himiico, finding himfelf unable to fuf- Himiic* 
tain afrefli attack, had recourfe to a private capitulation tvithgnm 
with Dionyfius. For three hundred talents (H), which he ''^/'f^. 
hnm'ediately fent the tyrant, he obtained permiffion to depart, ^^Jpet^ 
in the night, with all the furviving citizens of Carthage, to ^rUa,^ 
Africa. In confequence 6f which agreement, he, with forty 
galHes full of thofe citizetfc, failed for Carthage, leaving the 
reft of bis army behind. Bur fome Corinthians in Diony- 
jias's fervice, coming up with thefe gallies at fea, ran foul 
of fome veflTels in the rear, which were funk. In the mean 
time Dionyfius pofted detachments ac all the avenues lead- 
ing tb the enemy's camp, that none might make their efcape, 
jmd marching by night with his forces tookpoffeffion of it. ' 
All the enemy's liaggagc and valuable efFefts left in the 
camp, were delivered up as plunder to the foldicry p* 

This viftory was the more extraordinary, as before . 
the plague broke out in the Carthaginian camp, Diony<» 
fius found 'himfelf reduced to the laft extremity, and was 
adually confulting with his friends about the moft proper 
method of making his efcape. In this melancholy fituation 
his friend Ellopides advifcd him to refume all his courage, 
?nd by no means to renounce his fovereignty, telling him, 
that the ropil title would be the greateft ornament to his fe- 
pulcbre. The tyrant clofed with his advice, and, notwith- 
standing the Siculi bad joined the enemy, by the. calamity 
^bove relatedi became viftorious. 

•Thus ended this campaign, one of the moft remarkable 
for variety of incidents aiid vicifjitu^es of fortune to be 
found in hiftpry. 

Advice being brought to Carthage of the terrible fate that 
both tl)e land and fea-forces pf the reppbUc had experience 

f Died. Sic. ubi fupr^.' 'Idem ibid. cap. 7. 

(H) About fifty-fo»r thou- chcfl, confidering what a nu- 
^nd pQUnds flerling, no extra- merous arm^ HiQlikP ^oiU'* 
grdiuary fum for the o^i^itary mauded, 

cd 



5 1 6 The Hl/lory of the CartbaginiaKS^ 

nt Car- td in Sicilfj^ the whole city was overwhelmed with forrcw» 
thagimams Every part of it was filled with outcries and lamentations, 
intheuu ^^^ ^^ people were under the fame difmal apprehen- 
mipcon* fions as if the enemy had a£lually made themfelves mailers 
^ 'of the town. All tne houfes^ as well as the temples, being 

{hut up, an entire ftop was put to every kind of bufinefis, 
and even to their religious worfliip. This defpondcncy pre- 
vailed when the Carthaginians were feized with the firft 
impreffions of terror ; for foon after recovering themfelves, 
they began to entertain hopes tjhat, upon their general's ar- 
rival, things might pofiibly turn out better than they had 
been'reprefented. They did not, however, continue long 
in a ftate of fufpenfe ; for in a little time the poor remains 
of their (battered troops landed near Carthage, and confirm- 
ed the melancholy account they had before received. Upon 
this information all the wretched inhabitants abandoned 
^ themfelves to defpair, and giving full vent to their grief, 
made the (hore refound with their groans and lamentations 9. 
WmxlcQ^ Himilco in the mean time landing at Carthage, appeared 

not hiing vjx mean and fordid attire. He was immediately met by 
able tofuf' ^ vaft concourfe of people, lamenting their fad and inaufpi- 
*^f%' '' cious fortune. Joining with thefe miferable wretches, and 
JJJ^/,[ j^,//j^ ' lifting up his hands to heaven, he bitterly bewailed his; own 
kimfttf. hard fate, but moft of all that of his country. Afterwards 
impioufly taxing the gods with partiality, and making them 
thefole authors of his misfortune, he told his countrymen, 
they ought to eftcem it as a fingular happinefs, that their 
irefent calamitous condition was not brought upon them 
►y their own ill conduft, and that the enemy could afTume 
to themfelves no merit from their difafter. ** The enemy 
(faid he) may indeed rejoice at our mifery, but have no rea- 
fon to glory in it. The troops we have ioft did not fall by 
their valour, nor did they oblige thofe that are now arrived, 
to abandon Sicily by force. We return vidorious over the 
Syracufans, and are only defeated by the plague. The bag- 
gage found in our camp ought not to be regarded as the 
fpoils of a conquered enemy, but as cfFefts, which the ca- 
fual death of the owners has left the Syracufans in pof- 
felBon of. No part of the difafler, continued he, touches mc 
fo much as my furviving fo many gallant menj and my be- 
ing referved, not for the comforts of life, but to be the fport 
of fo dreadful a calamity. Since therefore I have brought 
back to Carthage the remaining part of the army under my 
condufl:, I fball fpeedily follow thofe brave men who pe* 

q Ifocrat. in Archidam. -^^Han. Var, Hift. lib- i?. cap. %. Juft, 

lib. xix. Tub fin, Orof. lib. iv* 

• • . . . .' 

riOied 



I 



The Bijlory of the Carthaginians* itt 

riihed in 'Sicily, and thereby demonftfate to my country, 
that it was not out of a fondnefs for life, but merely to pre- 
ferve the' troops which had efcaped the plague, from the 
fury of the enemy, to which, by my more early death they 
would have been* expofed, that I furvived them.** After 
this declaration^ going direftly to his houfe, and ftiiitting 
the doors agairift the citizens, and even his own children^ 
he gave himfelf the fatal ftroke '. 

The fame of Dtonyfius's fuccefs being fpread all over 
the Carthaginian dominions, and thofe of their confederates 
in Africa, the affairs of the republic in this country were 
fo0n almoft in as bada fituation as in Sicily. The Africans . 
bore a natural hatred to the Carthaginians ; and this was 
miich heightened^' when it came to be publicly known in • • * 

Africa, that Himilco had faved only the citizens of Car- 
thage, leaving the confederates to the mercy of the enemy. The Afri- 
Incenfcd therefore to the laft degree, and moved with a ^^^* ^^"^^ 
thorough contempt of the Carthaginians, who now - were *^^|^./ 
become defpicablc to all their neighbours, the cities and ginuuu. 
ftates which had fent them auxiliaries, took up arms, in* 
tending to take fignal vengeance for the late affront offered 
them ia the perfons of their countrymen. They difpatched 
exprcfles into all parts, publifhing the ill ufage they had re^ 
iieived Hi the moft aggravating terms ; by which means 
iuppltes coming from every quarter, they foon aifembled a 
confiderable body of troops, with which they encamped in 
the fields. Their defign being publicly known, and that 
they had forces likcwife to put it in execution, the whole 
country rofe ; fo that their army, in a fliort time, amounte4 
to a1>ove two hundred thoufand efFc£live men. With this 
formidable body they immediately took their route towards 
Carthage. 

' On their march they ^ook Tunes, a city in the neigh- Yr. of FU 
bourhood of Carthage, which furrendered at the firfl fum* 195-^. 
mons. This lofs occafioned a dreadful alarm among the ^"^*^ ^^'** 
citizens of Carthage; who now gave up every thing for ^^^' 
loft. However, upon the approach of the enemy, they en* 7>j^« ^^^^ 
^ged them ; but were defeated in a pitched battle, and Tunes, and 
obliged to retire within their walls. As the Carthaginians, ad*vance 
in all public calamities, carried their fuperftition to a very '"^^ /^^ 
great excefs, their firfl care was to appeafe the offended J^^^^/ ' 
gods, paxticularly Ceres and Proferpina, whofe temples they Carthage^ 
had violated at Syracufe ; and therefore confidered this ' 
fnelahcholy incident as the efFe£l of their refentment. Be- 
iofc this period thefc deities had never been heard of in , 

r Juftint Qrofi & Diod. Dlod, Sic. ubi fupra. 
^'^ ^ \ Afiica : 



«f g TbiHjftdty of the Carthaginiafit. 

Africa : btit aow^ to atone for the outrage that had heett 
offisred thein> magmficent ftatues were creded to their ho« 
nour ( priefts felotled from amongft the moft diftinguiihed 
families of the city for their fervicc ; and all their facrifices 
erdained to be ofiercd after the Greek manner. Greeks^ 
Terfed in the rites and ceremonies peculiar to the worfiiip 
' of thefe goddefles, were appointed to officiate in this fer« 
tice. Having by this inftitution fufficiently, as they apprc# 
hendedi atoned ror paft ofiences to thefe deities, they equips 
4 ped a fleet, and made all necefiary preparations to reduce 
the rebels, and thofe who fupported them, to reafon. '• 
katarith^ Though the African forces w;crcvery numerous; yet, 
a^ilmtlaft happily for the Carthaginians, they wanted a general, ai 
US^ft. well as fttbordinate officers of experience ; and had neither 
warlike engines to carry on a fiege, nor provifions to fup« 
port fo vaft a multitude \ whereas the Carthaginians, being 
mafters of the fea, were fupplied with every thing in great 
plenty from Sardinia. Such an army as this was like a body 
uninformed with a foul. As there was no difcipline or 
fubordination in it, every perfbn might claim an indepen« 
dence on the reft ; which would caufe^numberlefs fafi^ns 
and diviiions amongft them, and confequently foon dillblve 
the whole. Thus, in fad:^ it happened with this rabble of 
an army : for difTenfions arifing, the famine daily increaf^ 
tng, and many of their leaders being bribed by the Cartha« 
ginians to defert, the individuals of which it was compofed 
retired to their refpeAive homes, and by thefe means Car^ 
tha^e was delivered from one of the moft imminent dan^ 
gerff that had ever threatened it. 

After the late difafter in Sicily* Himilco had left Magd 

to manage the Carthaginian intereft in that ifland, and fet* 

tie their fhattered affairs in the heft manner poffible. Ill 

the courfe of his adminiftration, he treated all the Sicilians 

fubje£k to Carthage with great mildnefs and humanity, and ' 

granted his proteSion to all who were perfecuted by I)iony* 

fius. I}e alfo entered into alliances with feveral Sicilian 

cities, which had an averfion to the tyrant. Strengthened 

by thefe alliances, and receiving great reinforcements from 

.Carthage, he formed an army, and mad« an inctirfion into 

the territory of Meflana. Having ravaged the country in 

a dreadful manner, he carried off the plunder, and retirtd 

Hiwffim to Abacznum, a city of his confederates, where he encamp* 

t9utt MagQ ed. Dionyfius, advancing to Abacsenum, offered him 

Mt Ahac^" battle ; which challenge Mago- accepted, but was drives 

'"^ cut of the field, with the lofs of above eight hundred meis» 

• Diod. SicuL ttbi ibpra. 



The Hffiary of the Cartbagwians^ > ^l^.. 

After this de£eat, die Caithagtnian generaU with his htoktvt 
troops, eiueied Abacxnum ( and Dionyfius returned to. 
Syracufe ^ 

Notwithdanding the great lofles the Cartbaginians had Yf , ^f p|^ 
fudalned in the courfe of this war^ they could not forbear 1956. 
maJdag new attempts upon the iiland of Sicily. Their of- Ante Chr« 
ficei-& were therefore fcnt, as ufuaU to levy forces in Africa* 39*' 
Sardinia, and fome of thofe parts of Italy not inhabited by ^. ^ 
Greeks* As their fleets had been hitherto unfuccefsful^ thaginums 
they propofed determining the fate of Sicily by a decifive meditate m 
battle in the field » for which reafoa they fitted out a much frefi ot- 
weaker fquadron of capital flaips^ than in any of the former Jr'^j^J* 
expeditions. They armed all their troops on this occafion p/^nj^ 
in the completed manner, and appointed Mago^ who was 
defeated the year before at Abacaenunu commander in chiefs 
hopinf^ the face of afiair&in that illand would foon undergo' 
a very confidcrable alteration* 

MagOy aiTcmbltng his land-forces, found them eighty 
thoufand fighting men, with which he landed in Sicily. . 
On hi$ march tl^ough the territories of the Siculi, many 
cities fiirrendered to his arihs ; and thefe acquifittons gave 
bim great encouragement. At laft he encamped on the 
river Chryfas, in the country of the A^yrineans, and at- 
^Tifipted to bnng over that people to his party. But his 
endeavours proving ineffe£bual, and receiving intelligencet 
'that Dionyfius was advancing againfl: him at the head of 
twenty thoufand men» he continued fome time in his camp, 
and put himfelf in a pofture to receive the enemy. In the 
mean time the tyrant, being arrived in the neighbourhood Dhtiy/iui 
tt the Carthaginian camp, fent to Agyris, prince of the ^'"^ ^f' 
Agyrinaeans, to join him with all his forces, and fupply hi3 IftJj^^jl^, 
troops with provifions. This tyrant was next to Dionyfius rinaam, 
in power of all others in the iuand, his city containing nq ever to his 
kfs than twenty thoufand inhabitants. His coffers at that intergfti 
time were full of treafure \ for he had lately murdered 
fome of his princip;d fubjedls, and confiscated their eftates* 
Dionyfius therefore making him a vifit, with fome of his 
particular friends, prevailed upon Agyris to fecond his 
meafures \ in confequence of which agreement^ he received 
a (apply of provifions, and a ftrong reinforcement of troops. 
What induced Agyris to fall in fo readily with the Syra* 
cofan tyrant's views was, the promife of a large extent of 
territory adjoining to his own, in cafe their arms Ihould be 
attended with. fuccefs ^ • 

t Diod. Sic. lib* xir. cap. iq* ' • Idem. ibid. cap. xi. 

In 



310 The Hifioty of the Carthaginians. 

In the mean time Mago^ finding himfelf in an enem/s 
country, reduced td great diftrcfs for ^ant of provifions^ 
began to be very uneajfy. The S/racufans wiflied to come 
to battle in^mediately ; but this meafure Dionyfius oppofed^ 
. telling them, they might ruin the enemy's whole army 
without ftriking a ftroke, by ftarving them to a furrender : 
and indeed he had great reafon for what he advanced ; for 
the Agyrineans, being well acquainted with all the pafies' 
' atid private roads of the country, every day furprifed the 
Carthaginian parties ; and after cutting them to pieces, in- 
tercepted all the proviGons they were carrying to their camp. 
. However, the Syracufans, being iilcenfcd at DionyGus's" 
refufal to comply with their propofal, direftly quitted his 
camp. This defeftion threw the tyrant into great conftcr- 
rtation, and obliged him to manumit all the flaves, as-'hc 
had done once before. Soon after the Carthaginians, 
alarmed at the dreadful profpefl of a famine, fent ambafla- 
dors to propofe an accommodation. This being as ne- 
Yr. of Fl. ^g(faj.y {q^ Dionyfius in his prefent circumftances as the 
Ante^Chr. Carthaginians, a peace was concluded to the fatisfa£lioii of 
391. both parties, without any farther efFufion of blood. The new 
— — — treaty agreed in all points with the former ; only by an addi- 
and con- fional article the city of Taurominium was given to Diony- 
iiMdeia gyg^ who, driving out the Siculi, placed the choiceft of his 
AtaM' inercenarics in their room. 'As foon as the treaty was fign- 
ed, Magd returned to Carthage, leaving his allies in Sicily 
to fliift for themfclves. Thus this war ended, notwitb* 
Handing the terrible blow they received before Syracufe, 
very little to the difadvantage of the Carthaginians ^. 

From this time, for nine years, the Carthaginians enjoyed 
uninterrupted repofe ; at leaft hiftory is filent as to any mili- 
^ tary tranfaftions they were concerned in during that inter- 

val : but in the fecond year of the ninety-ninth Olympiad, 
Dionyfius, meditating a war againft them, formed i project 
of putting his finances upon fiich a footing, as might enable 
him to carry it on with a profpeft of fuccefs. This fcheme, 
by the afliftance of that good fortune, which had always at- 
tended him to that time, he eafilyput in execution. HaT* 
ing fitted out fixty gallics, under pretence of clearing the 
feas of pirates, he made a defcent in Etruria, and plunder- 
DwnyTmi e^ a yj^f, temple in the fuburbs of Agylla, carrying away, be- 
Kich temple ^^^^^ ^^^ rich-cfFcGs and furniture, above a thoufand talents 
in Etruria. '" money. Five hundred talents more he raifed by the fate 
of the fpoils, and, with this mpney, levied a numerous ar« 

^ Diod. Sicul. ]ib> xiv. cap. le* 

my. 



,The Wftoty of the Carthaginlam^ -5^1 

mj. He tiQW wanted nothing but a plaufible pittenc^ to 
break j^ith the Carthaginians ; for which he was not long 
at a,.Io£i« Obfervingi that the Carthaginian fubje£ls in Si- 
cily WGft inclineid to revolt, he took as many under his pro- 
tedipn, as would accept of it, and entered into a league 
with them \ the confequence of which was an admiiTion o,f 
his troops into their cities^ The Carthaginians informed 0)f 
this coadu£l, firft remonftrated againft fuch a proceedings 
as a manlfeft infraction of the treaties then fubfifting be- 
tween them, by minifters fent to the tyrant for that purpofe ; » 
but thisremonftrance not availing, they declared war againi^ 
him *. 

The people of Carthage,.fufpe£iing his defign againft their 
ilate, upon the firft notice they received of his extraordinary 
preparations, had ftrengthened themfelves by alliances with 
their. neighbours, and taken all other neceflary meafures tp 
ihelter themfelves from the ioipending ftorm. £xpe£t:ing tp 
be attacked by the tyrant's \«^hole power, they formed aa 
army out of the flower of their citizens, which was joined 
by a ftrong body of foreign mercenaries engaged in their feri* 
vice. 'T6 make a greater diveffion, they divided their armf 
into two .'bodies ; one of which they fent to Italy, and tb^ 
other to Sicily ; and this ftep obliged Dionyfius like wife t9 
divide his forces. The main army however had orders t^ 
SiGt in Sicily, under the command of Mago, who, foon after 
his airisral, was attacked by Dionyfius at a place called Ca« \ 
bala. The encounter was fevere and bloody ; but at laft th^ anddefeatt 
Carthagimaos were forced to fly to a neighbouring hill^ thm at 
ftrong by its fituation, but deftitute of water. In the battle Cabala in 
they had ten thoufand men killed upon the fpot, together ^^^'^* 
with IVfago their general, who beha^ved with great bravery 
and refolntion, and five thoufand taken prifoners. In this 
fituation, the Carthaginians found themfelves obliged to fue 
for peace \ which they could obtain upon no other terms, 
but their evacuating Sicily, and defraying all the expence^ ' 
of the. war. With thcfe conditions, however hard they 
might appear, they were forced to comply : but they evaded 
putting the firft in execution, till the return of an exprefs 
from Carthage. In the mean time they buried Mago, who, 
at the tintie of his death, was one of their fufFetes, with as 
much pomp and magnificence, as the prefent melancholy 
fituation of their affairs would permit, and appointed his 
fon Mago to command the troops in his room y. 

Dionyfius, elated with his fuccefs, now looked upon him- 
felf as fovereign .of all JSicily, not doubting but he fhould 

» Diod, Sicul. lib. xv. cap. 2. x Idem ibid. & Polysen. 

Strat. lib. vi. cap. i6. ex. i. 

Vot.XV. Y fooa 



32i The mjlory of the Carthaginians. 

fbon be in a fituation to give laws to all his neighbours : 
but in this hope he was greatly miftaken ; for the Cartha- 
ginians ^did intend in reality to accept of the conditions of« 
fered them. As 'their whole condu& on this occafion 
was calculated only to amufe the tyrant, till they had 
an opportunity of re-eftablifliing their affairs, during the 
truce, Mago, their new general, raifed and difciplined freOi 
troops, and- improved that ihort interval fo well, that) at 
the return of the exprefs fent to Carthage, he took the field 
with a powerful army. As Mago, though young, had, on 
many ' occafions, given proofs of extraordinary valour and 
prudence, the forces under his condudi expreffed great im- 
Yr. of Fl. patience toeiigage the enemy. Indulging* their ai^our^ ira- 
A ^'^Ch nicdiatcly upon the expiration of the truce, he gave Diony» 
g^^ * fius hattie not faf from Cronion, and entirely defeated him, 
_^_ killed fourteen thoufand Syracufans on the fpot, and amongft 
But is the reft lieptines, his brother, a gallant officer, who was 
ever- greatly regretted, even by thofe who detefted the tyrant* . 

thrown at jjj j],g beginning of the engagement, Dionyfius had the ad^ 
€nmon. ^j^^tage, repulfing thofe that charged him with great bravery; 
but when be heard of the death of Leptines, and that the 
body he commanded was broken and difperfed, he imme- 
diately betook himfelf to flight, and was hotly purfued by 
the Carthaginians^ A dreadful flaughter was made in the 
purfuit ; and as the enemy gave no quarter, the reft muft 
all have been cut off, had they not, by the favour x)f the 
night, found means to efcape. This viftory made the Car- 
thaginians ample amends for the blow they received at Ca- 
bala, and left them in full polTeffion, not only of their own 
towns, but alfo of a great part of the Syracufan territories. 
Dionyfius, with the remains of his ihattercd army, fled to 
- Syracufc, where he expected to be befieged by the vifto- 
rious enemy. However, the Carthaginian general ufed his 
vidory with great moderation, and concluded a peace with 
Dionyfius on the following conditions. 

Firft, Dionyfius ihall cede to the Carthaginians the city 
and territory of Selinus. 

Secondly, The kingof Syracufe fhall cede to the republic 
of Carthage that part of the diftrifl: of Agrigentum border* 
ing upon the territory of Selinus, which extends as far as 
the river Ha lye us. 

Thirdly, He fhall pay the Carthaginians a thoufand tai* 
lents, to defray the expences of the war. 

In other refpefts, all former treaties betwixt the twopow* 
ers were to fubfift in their f ullcft extent '. 

^ Idem ibid. 

. . -About 



rheHiftoiyofiheCarthdgMani. . 5«J^ 

About three years after the conclufion of this w'ar^ thtf nt Car^ 
Carthaginians landed an army in Italy, and reftored the in- thaginiant 
habitants of 'Hippoj or, as Strabo calls it, Hipponium, to **«*' ^» 
their city, from whence they had been expelled. This city J^jJ^y^* 
was very ancient, being mentioned by Scylax } and was, ac- 
cording to Strabo, built by the people of Locri. The Ro- 
mans called it Vibo, Valentia, and Vibo Valentia ; but Pto- 
lemy ufed the old name, following Scylax and Strabok If 
the laft author may be credited, the country abojUt it was 
extremely beautiful, being covered with flowers of various 
kinds, of which the matrons of the place mald^ ebaplets or . .. .. 

garlands, and wore them iii honour of ProCerpina ; who,, 
according to an ancient tradition prevailing atnongft the na- 
tives, came thither on purpofe to gather flowers. The ci- 
tizens were undoubtedly in alliance with the Carthaginians^ 
who undertook this expedition purely with a defign to re-* 
ftore them to their native country ; which after they had ef- 
fe£ted, by recalling the exiles from all parts, and treating 
them with great kindnefs, they returned to Africa* 

Immediately after the arrival of the troops from Italy, Yr. of Fh 
Carthage had a mod terrible calamity to (Iruggle with : the 1^70.' 
plague broke out again, and fwept away an infinite liumber ^"** ^^''* 
of the inhabitants. This feems to have raged with greatet ^^ 
violence than any diftemper the city was ever vifited with 7*;^^ ifri*' 
before \ fpr fuch vaft multitudes were carried off, that the cans and 
whole country was in a manner depopulated. The Africans Sardi rie^ 
and Sardi, encouraged by the extreme weaknefs to which ^'^5 ^•^ . 
that ilate was reduced, attempted to ihake off the Cartha-^J^'y 
ginian yoke ; but were at laft, -not without fome effufion of former ^bt* 
blood, reduced to obedience. This peftil^nce was of a very dUn/ci* 
fingular nature \ for panic terrors, and violent fits of frenfy, 
fuddenly feized the heads of thofe afili£ked with it, who* 
fallying fword in hand out of their houfes, as if the enemy 
had taken the city, killed or wounded all who unhappily 
came in their way. Juflin intimates, that the Carthagi<* 
nians laboured under this grievous diftemper a confiddr<* 
able time, with little or no intermiffion ; for it appears, that 
they were delivered from the plague not long before the 
death of Dionyfius. 

Towards the beginning of the hundred and third Olym* 
piad, Dionyfius, affembling a large body of forces, refolved 
to fall upon the Carthaginians, who were then in a very bad 
fituation, on account of the ravages the plague had made, 
and the war with the Africans and Sardi, .which had not 
been long terminated. As he had not the leaft colour or 
pretext for fuch an open violation of treaties, he was oblig- 
ed to have recourfe.to downright falfity \ alleging, that the 

T a Cartha* 



*1 .w 



3t4 Thi IT^oiy of the Carthaginians. 

Carthdgifiians mdde incurfions into his domiftions. W(tb« 
out putting hinyfftlf to the l^rouble therefore of making a 
fidrmil declaration of war, be advanced into the Carthagi- 
nUn territories) with an armj of 'thirty thoufand foot, and 
three thoufand horfe, attended by a navy of three hundred 
fail. With this formidable force he foon reduced the cities 
of Selihus and Entelh) plundering and ravaging the adja- 
DUnyJius ^ont country. Then he made himfelf matter of Eryx, and 
J^** M^' ifivcfted Lilybfiftum ; which, being defended by a numer- 
GsrrWi- <wis gartif<my baffled his efforts in fuch a manner, that 
be was difUgieJel^ao relinquifh the fiege. Being informed, 
that the a^rfqiisilc'at Carthage was consumed by fire, he con* 
dtided, tharchis ftate would find it impoilible to equip a 
fiect ; and therefore laid up thirty of his bed gallies in the 
baven at Eryx, bikI fent back all the reft to Syracufe. The 
Garthaginians) knowing the tyratJt was not upon his gUatd, 
manned two hundred gallies, and unexpeftedly entering 
^h« port of Eryx, fisrprifed part of his fleet, and carried moft 
of it off. After this, a truce was agreed upon by both par- 
ties, and the tro^s retired into winter-quarters. Dionyfius 
did not long furvivethis event : having reigned thirty-eight 
years, he was fticceedcd by a fon of the fame name in the 
govemmem df Syracufe *. 
GtH^loM* Though Diodorus does not fay exprefly, that the Cartha- 

S*^^ ^^' ^ giniansr upon the laft rupture, fent a body of troops to Sicily, 
%Mii!^' yet Jttftm gives «s fom^ reafon to believe, that they either 
^^ * did, 49r <^t»gn€»d it ; and that thefe troops were commanded 
by HariitOi The fame author informs us, that Suniator, 
Suniatus, or Sufiiates, a perfon of great authority in the 

^ity, bore a*i implacable hatred to Hanno; and, in order 

tQ do him i prejudice, endeavoured to give the enemy in- 
telligencdbf his motions, by writing in Greek to Dionyfius: 
but his fetter, wherein he made very free with Hanno's 
charader, being intercepted, he was found guilty of treafon 
by the fenate. This deteftion occafioned the paffingofa 
law at Carthage, prohibiting all the inhabitants either \<i 
Ifvrite or fpeak the Greek language, that they might be de- 
prived of ^11 means of correfponding with the enemy **. 

The Carthaginians being at this time in full poffefDonof 
Sardinia, atid a great part of Africa, thought it confiftcnt 
with jtffkice, and even policy, to prevent all intercourfc be- 
twixt the Romans and thofe countries. Neverthelefs about 
this period the firft treaty was ciancludcd betweeh thcfeivo 
rival nations ; from which treaty it appears, that both the 

a Diodor. Stcuh Hb. xy, cap. 9. i> Jtiflin. ubi f^pra. lib. iii* 

.cap.. 5« Mel. lib. ii. cap, 4. £rtv. lib. xxxv. cap. 4^, &c. 

Romans 



\ 



1» 

9^^ Htftoty of she Carthaginiatth 325 

Romans and Carthaginians applied themfelve^ with great di<* 
ligence to commerce* Soon after this events the Romany 
gained a (ignal viQory over the Samnites. Upon which 
the Carthaginians fent to compliment the republic on her 
fucccfs, and made a prefent of a crown of gold of twenty-* 
five pounds weight to Jupiter Capitolinus ^ : but to retura 
to the affairs of Sicily. 

The prince upon the throne was of a quite different cha- Yr. of FU 
rafter from his father, being as peaceable and mild in hi« '9^'* 
temper, as the other was aftive and enterprifing. But this A"^« Chr, 
moderation being only the efFedt of a flothful and indolent ^ ^* 
difpoHtion, his fubjefts from hence reaped no great benefit. Dionvfius 
Soon after his taking upon himfelf the government of Syr a- //. conut 
cufe, he changed the truce with the Carthaginians into a uanac" 
perpetual peace, and made it his endeavour to cultivate a '?»«o^-«- 
gbod underftanding with them. As Diodorus afcribes thi^ ^/heCar- 
peace to his indolence and (loth, we have fome reafon to thaginiaus. 
belive, . that the terms were not very advantageous to the 
Syracufans **. ^.t^' ^^ 

Some years after, the people of Syracufe, being agitated jf^ar ^. 
by civil diffenfions, were involved in the greateft miferies. tweentke 
Dionyfius was obliged to quit his throne^ and continued Syracufans 
an exile ten ye^rs ; but at laft, the city being rent into ^l'^^^" 
parties and faftions , upon the death of Dion, he found andofDio* 
means to reinilate himfelf in his dominions. His paft mif- nyjiusnuitk 
fortunes greatly inflamed his temper, and rendered him theCar- 
very favage and brutal. In (hort, the better fort of the citi- '%««^^'« 
zens, not being able to endure fo cruel a fervitude, implor- 
ed the aid of Icetas, who was by defcent a Syracufan, and 
at that time tyrant of Leontini* They created him general, 
of all their forces; not from any great opinion they enter-* 
tained of his virtue, but becaufe they had no other refource# 
The Carthaginians, thinking this a proper opportunity tQ 
make themfelves abfolute mailers of Sicily, equipped a gr^^( 
fleet, and for fome time hovered upon the coafts of that 
ifland, not being at firfl: determined where to make a de- 
fqent. They aifo entered into an alliance With Icetas, who 
h^d taken Syracufe uncjer his proteftion. The two powers^ 
by this treaty, engaged to join their forces, in order to ex- 
pel DionyGus ; and, after his expulfion, to divide Sicily 
between them. Could fuch a divifion as this have taketi 
place, the Carthaginians would probably afterwards have 

« Orof. lib. i. ad A. U, C. CDii. M. Rollin. in Hift. Anc. dct . 
Carih^g. p. «i3. a Amftcrdam, 1753. Poly<>. lib. iii, f ap« a«, 23, 
>4f Liv. lib. vii* ' Diod. Sic. lib. xvi. cap. a« 

Y 3 beeft 



1 26 yZv Hijiory of the Carthaginians. 

been able to crufli the tyrant, and make themfelves maftcn 
of the whole ifland •. - 

The Syracufans difcovering this defign, as well as Icc- 
ta&'s view in the whole affair, applied to the Corinthians for 
affiftance. That ftate, which bore a great averfion to ty- 
rants of all denominations, fent a body of troops under the 
condu£): of Timoleon, a general of confummate abilities) 
and a great friend to liberty, to the affiftance of the Syra- 
cufans. Timoleon, apprifed of the miferable condition to 
which' that people were reduced, made the neceffary prepa- 
rations for a fudden departure. To facilitate which, he was 
very fpeedily fupplied with every thing requifitc to render 
his enterprize fuccefsful, by the Corinthians. 
Yr. of Fl. But no^withftanding the hurry he was in, he thought 
^004. proper to go to Delphi, in order to facrifice to Apollo, bc- 
Antc Chr. f^^^ |^e failed for Sicilv. As he defcended intoahe place 
^^^ where the refponfes of the oracle were received, a wreath 
Timoleon ^^ garland, interwoven with crowns and trophies, accord- 
/ets fail for-X^g to Plutarch, flipping from among the confecrated giftsi 
Sifiijf s.ii that were hung up in the temple, fell diredly upon his 
head. This incident he interpreted as a happy omen, 
Apollo feeming to crown him with fuccefs, and to affurc 
him of a triumph over Icetas and the Carthaginians. He 
fet fail from Corinth with feven gallies bf his own nation, 
two of Corcyra, and a tenth, which was fent him by the 
Leucadians, with only a thoufant) foldiers on board ; a very 
fmall force, confidering the enterprize he was going upon. 
The fame author alfo informs us, that Timoleon, ftanding 
out to fea by night, was carried by a profperous gale into 
.the ocean, and preceded in the night by a flame, refembling 
thofe torches that were ufed in the facred myfteries of Ceres 
and Proferpina, which conduced him to that part of Italy 
wh^re he intended to land. This phaenomenon being in- 
terpreted by the foothfayers as a confirmation of what thofe 
goddeiTes had before declared, he confidered it as afure 
token of viftory. Purfuing his voyage over the Ionian 
fea with great alacrity, he foon arrived fafe with his fmall 
fleet at Mctapontum, now Torre di Mare, on the cpaft pf 
Italy'. 
Ifpott his From Metapbnum he advanced to Rhcgium^ where h< 
firfi*valott found ambafladbrs from Icetas ; and likewife was- in formed, 
It I hi ^^^ twenty Carthaginian gallies, which convoyed thofc 
imufeiUe- fimbaffadors to Rhegium, bad blocked up the road, and 

^Qs and iki 

Carfhagh ? Plut. in Timol. & Died. Sic. ub} fop, c?p, 1'^. 'K^d. 

^mff §lc. lib,3^vi. ctfp. u. ^f tlul, ubifm?, • 






The Hijtory of the Carthaginms. 327 

received orders to oppofe him, if he offered to Approach. 
Syracufe. Timoleon finding himfelf tiot able to force his 
way, on account of the fuperior ftrength of the enemy^ 
pretended to liften to the propofal of the ambafladors \ h\xX 
infifted upon confulting the Rhegians in the affair. Amongil 
other things, he alleged, that the Carthaginians themfelves 
would more fcrupuloufly obferve the articles of a treaty they 
had iigned before fo many witneffes* The commanders of 
the Carthaginian fquadron, amufed with this fpecious pre- 
text, agreed to the conference demanded of them and Ice- 
tas's ambaffadors, in the prefence of the people of Rhegium. 
This enabled Timoleon, by the ailiilance of the latter, who ^dtandt 
were privy to the defign, to pafs over into Sicily in fight of ^"^Vf" 
the Carthaginian fleet. 'aftrZa^^ 

Timoleon arrived fafe with his whole fleet at Tauromi- gem, 
nium. The Rhegians, on the other hand, greatly rejoiced 
to fee the Carthaginians repulfed at their own weapons, and 
could not forbear rallying them upon the occaflon. -The 
Carthaginians being thus deluded, were extremely mor- 
tified, and made bitter complaints of the Rhegian perfidy 
and fraud. it. 

The Carthaginian general, informed of Timoleon's land- 'J'Ae Car' 
ing at Taurominium, difpatchcd an exprefs on board one ^^^V^i^ni 
of his gallie§, threatening Andromachus, the tyrant of jf!*^ 
that city, with his refentment, if he did not immediately ^^^^^ 
expel the Corinthians. The form of the menace, according 
to Plutarch, was this : the Barbarian, ftretching out hi« 
hand with the infide upward, and then turning it round, 
threatened to treat Taurominium in the fame manner. An- 
dromachus, laughing, made no other reply to this infolenpe, 
than by repeating this motion with an air of contempt, and 
ordering him to depart immediately, upon pain of having 
fuch a trial of dexterity exercifed upon the veflel which 
brought him thither. Which fingle circumftance, flight as 
it is, feems clearly to point out the Carthaginian original ; 
denunciations of this kind having been common in the Eafl, 
as appears from Scripture, to omit what may be col]e£led 
from profane authors ^. 

Timoleon, drawing his forces out of Taurominium, TtmoUom 
which in the whole did not amount to above.a thoufand or drfiaula* 
twelve hundred men, began his march towards the duflc of ^ ^' -'• 
the evening, and arrived the next day at Adranwm. To this ''**"*"• 
place Icetas had advanced at the head of a Carthaginian de- 
tachment of five thoufand men. Thefe Timoleon. furprifed 
at fupper, put three hundred of them to th^ fwoid, and 

, s . K I Kings XX. 19; ^ alib. paif. 

V 4 took 



N 



3^8 ^e Hiftoty of the Carthaginians. 

took fix hundred prifoners. Then he marched to Syracufey 
ind broke into one part of the town, before the enemy had 
any notice of his approach. Here he took poft, and de- 
fended bimfelf with fuch refolution^ that he could not 
be diflodged by the united power of Icetas and the Car- 
thaginians **• 
TkiCo' Dionyfius having put the citadel of Syracufe into the 

rintkian hands of the Corinthians, they kept pofleffion of that im- 
garrifon in portant place. Leon 9 an officer of great bravery, who 
th$ ^'^^^" commanded the Corinthian garrifon, in a fally took that 
take Acra- P^^^ ^^ ^^^ city called Acradina ; and, by works of coni- 
Sna. munication, joined it to the citadel. Nor could all the ef« 

forts of the Carthaginians, and their allies, diflodge him 
from this quarter. Timoleon remained fometime at Catana, 
in expcftation of a reinforcement from Corinth. Till the 
, arrival of thofe troops, he did not judge it pradicable to 

extend his conquefts *. 

The Carthaginians, informed that the Corinthian fuc- 
cours were detained by temped uous weather at Thurium 
pofted a ftrong fquadron, under Hanno their admiral, to in- 
tercept them, in their pafl'age to S.icily. But that corr- 
mander, not imagining the Corinthians would attempt a 
paffage to Sicily in fuch a ftormy feafon, left his ftation at 
Thurium, and ordering his feamen to crown themfelves 
with garlands, and adorn their veifels with bucklers of both 
the Greek and Carthaginian form, failed to Syracufe in a 
triumphant manner. Upon his arrival, he gave the troops 
in the citadel to underftand, that he had taken the fuccours 
Timoleon expefted, thinking by this artifice to intimidate 
them to furrcnder. But whilft he fpent his time in fuch 
amufements, the Corinthians marched with great expedi- 
tion through the territories of the Brutii to Rhegium, and 
taking the advantage of a gentle breeze, were eafily wafted 
ever to Sicily. Thus they eluded the vigilance of the Car- 
thaginian fquadron. This capital error in Hanno proved 
the total ruin of Icetas, and, in its confequences^ was of 
infinite prejudice to the Carthaginians. 

Mago, receiving advice of the jundion of this, reinforce- 
ment with Timolcon's other troops, was ftruck with ter» 
ror J though the whole Corinthian army did not form a corps 
of above four tboufand men. Soon after, fome of the Greek 
fticrccnaries joining in converfation, whilft they were fifli- 
ing for eels in the marflies about Syracnfc, one of the Co* 
rinthian party addrefled himfelf to thofe of the other fide in 
the following terms r<« Is it poffiblc for Greeks to attempt 

> Plut. k Diodor. ubi fufra. * Idem, ibid. 

reducing 



7he }S{tory of the -CarthaginianSm ' 1 2f 

reducing fo noble z city as this to the obedience of Sarba^ 
rians, nay, of the moft cruel and bloody Barbarians breath- 
ing ? Is it not much more for their intereft, that the Car* 
thaginians ihould be removed at the greateft diftgnce from 
Greece, than that they fhould be put into the poffefTion of 
a moft rich and fertile iiland in its neighbourhood ? Can any 
perfon be fo ftupid as to imagine, that they have drawn 
their forces from the (treigbts of Hercules, and the Atlan^- 
tic ocean, purely to fupport Icetas, who, if he had afted 
like an able general would never have Introduced his 
country's implacable enemies into its bowels ? Was it po- 
litic condu£l in him to treat his anceftors and natural friends, 
as the bittereft enemies i which had he not done, he might 
have enjoyed his high dignity, without giving the leaft of- 
fence to Timoleon and the Corinthians r* Thefe difcourfes 
being fpread throughout the camp» and even reaching Ma- 
go's cars, whofe army was moftly compofed of mercenary 
Greeks, he apprehended a general defertion amongft his 
troops. So that, refuiing to llilen to Icetas, who plainly 
demonftrated the weaknefs of the enemy, he weighed an<* 
chof , and failed for Africa. No other reafon can be affign- 
ed for this unaccountable condu6l, but the timorous difpo- 
fition of that general, who confcious of his guilt, on his 
arrival at Carthage, laid violent hands on himfelf, to pre^ 
vent' the punifhment his cowardice deferved. His body was 
hung upon a gallows, and expofed as a public fpe<flacle to 
the people, in order to deter fucceeding generals from for^ 
feiting their honour, and facrificing their country, in fo 
flagrant a manner ^. ^ 

After Mago had abandoned his confederates in Sicily, the. 
Corinthian arms made a great progrefs in that ifland. Timo- 
leon poiTefied himfelf of Entella, and maffatred all the ci- 
tizens who perfifted in their adherence to the Carthaginians. 
He forced Icetas to renounce his alliance with the ftate of 
Carthage, and even depofed him. He reftored feveral 
Greek cities to the full enjoyment of their rights and privii# 
leges ; and admitted many others dependent upon the Car* 
thaginians among his confederates. And, laftly, after his 
return to Syracufe, he continued his military preparations 
with great diligence, intending to a<fl againft the Carthagi- 
nian part of Sicily the following year. 

The fenate and people of Carthage, highly offended at 
the condu£l: of thqir general omcers the laft campaign, de- 
prived moft of them of their commiffions; and, refolving to 
new-model the army, filled the vacant pofts with perfons of 

^ FlnUU Plodpr. $iCf vib's fupra. 

knowa 



33<5 The Hiflory of the Carthaginians. 

^he Car- known merit. As they were determined to carry on tbc 
thagittiams war in Sicily with vigour, they ordered levies to be made 
make great ^^ ^\ parts of their dominions, and took befides into their 
tioHs for fcrvicc a numerous body of mercenaries, raifed in Spaini 
carrying Gaul, and Liguria- 'Their naval preparations kept pace ia 
9H the war all refpeds with thofe made by land. Both being com- 
wijhTi- pleted, they fent Afdrubal and Hamilcar, two experienced 
moiion. commanders, over to Sicily, with an army of feventy thou- 
fand men, two hundred (hips of war, and a thoufand tranf- 
ports laden with warlike engines, armed chariots, horfes, 
and all forts of provifions. In the mean time Timoleon, 
having concluded the war with Icetas, and, by the accef- 
fion of his troops, confiderably reinforced his army, ad- 
vanced againft them with great intrepidity upon their land- 
ing at Lilyb^eum, though his forces did not amount to above 
ftvtn thoufand efFedlive men. He had, before the arrival 
of the Carthaginians, detached Dinarchus and DemaretuSf 
with a body of chofen troops, to make an inroad into one 
of their provinces, where they not only lived for a confi- 
derable time at difcfetion, but likewife obliged feveral of 
their cities to join the Greeks, and at their departure car- 
ried off a vaft fum of money, exa£led from the inhabitants, 
whom, they had laid under contribution. By thefe means 
Timoleon was enabled to furnifti a military cheft, and efta- 
bliih a fund fufficient for exigencies. The Carthaginian ge- 
nerals had no fooner landed their forces, than they were 
apprifed of this affront, which they intended fully to re- 
venge ; and therefore moving with their whole army to- 
wards Timoleon, they at laft encamped upon the banks of 
the river Crimefus, or Crimeffus. Nor did the Corinthian 
commander fail to meet them *, though a confiderable body 
of the Greek mercenaries had deferted him on his march. 
TmokoM ' As Timoleon afcended an eminence to take a view of the 
f»gages enemy's camp, he met fome mules loaded with parfley, an 
and defeats jjgfjj ^j^j^ which the fepulchres of the dead were ufually 
ihavni'au •^^^rned by the ancients. This trifling event threw the fol- 
armj, diers into a great panic, as they conftrued it into an un- 

lucky omen. Timoleon, to calm their minds, halted for a 
moment, declaring, that as the vi£lors at the Ifthmian games 
were crowned with this herb, particularly the Corinthians, 
it ought to be efteemed as a fymbol of viGory ; and there- 
fore intreated them to banifli all gloomy apprehenfions. To 
remove all impreflions of terror entirely from their minds, 
h«» made himfelf a crown of parfley; and the officers, in 
limitation of their general, did the like. With thefe they 

^ I^od. $icb ubifupra, cap. 13, 

approached 



ff'he Hijiory of the Carthaginians t 33 1 

approached the enemy -with-as much alacrity as if they had 
been fure of a triumph. Plutardh adds, that the foothfayers 
-difcovered two eagles flying towards them, one of which 
bore a dragon pierced through with her talons, and the 
other made a terrible and martial kind of noife. Thefe they 
Aewed to the foldiers, and interpreted as tokens of fuccefs, 
by which the troops were confirmed in their hopes of an 
aiifpicious day. Timoleon, therefore^ taking advantage of 
their prefeilt difpofition, and of the confufion the Cartha- 
ginians were thrown in at his unexpected arrival upon the 
banks of the Crimefus, attacked them with great vigour and 
refolution. Ten thoufand of the enemy's forces, who had 
already paffed the river, were defeated, and put to flight, 
before the reft could come to their alEftance. Great num- 
bers of the enemy periihed in this firft aftion ; for Timo- 
leon hi'mfelf being at the head of the body of troops that 
engaged, they performed wonders. But in the mean time 
the whole Carthaginian army having gained the oppofite 
banl^^ the battle was renewed, and the viftory remained a 
long time doubtful. The Sicilian horfe, under the conduQ: 
of L)emaretus, charged the enemy in front, before they had 
formed themfelves ; but could make no imprefTion, the 
armed chariots pofted there keeping them at a diftance, and 
pufhing them with fuch vigour, that they found it difficult 
to maintain their ranks. Timoleon, obferving this incon- 
venience, ordered them inftantly to wheel about, and attack 
the enemy in flank, whilft with the foot he formed a fort 
of phalanx, with which he bore down with great fury upon 
the Carthaginians, who on their fide fuftained the Ihoct of 
the Sicilian foot with furprifing firmnefs: but whilft they 
•were fighting with the greateft intrepidity, there arofe on a 
fudden a violent ftorm of hail, thunder, and lightning, 
which driving in the faces of the Carthaginians, put them 
into diforder. . At'the fame time the Crimefus overflowing 
its banks, occafioncd fuch an inundation, that the enemy 
were extremely embarrafled, and forced to retire in great 
confufion : which'incident animating the Greeks, they put 
the Carthaginians to the rout, and drove many of them 
into the river. The facred cohort, or brigade, as the Car- 
thaginians called it, which confifted of two thoufand five 
hundred citizens of Carthage, all men of experienced cou- 
rage and valour, fought with great refolution, and ftood 
their ground till they were cut ofl^to a man. Plutarch re- 
lates, that of ten thoufand men who were left dead on the 
field of battle, above three thoufand were native Carthagl- 
fiiansW the beft families in the city \ and that, according 
tp the Fu^i^ regord^i fuch a number of perfons of diftinc- 

tioa 



a 32 The Uyhry of the Carthaginians. 

lion titwer fell in any batde before^ As t\lc Cardiagtniui 
armies confifted for the mod part of Africans, SpaniardSf 
axKi NumidianS) when they received any remarkable defeat, 
it was generally at the expence of other natioos. Befide$ 
the flaint there were above fifteen thoufand taken prifoners. 
All their baggage and provifions, with two hundred cha« 
1*1018, a thoufand coats of mail, and ten thoufand (hields, 
fell into Timoleon's hands. The fpoil, which conGfted 
chiefly of gold and (ilver plate, and other furniture of great 
yalue, was, according to Plutarch, fo immenfe, that the 
whole Sicilian army was three days in coUe^iing it, and 
dripping the flain. After Timoleon's troops had pafied the 
jiver, and taken pofTeflion of the enemy's camp, they fouod 
fuch an incredible quantity of gold and Giver, that nothing 
of inferior value was regarded. The commander in chief 
divided the whole among the foldiers, referving nothing for 
Tr. of FI. himfelf but the glpry of fo famous a vifiory. It muft not 
2009. be forgot, that this memorable battle was fought on the 
Ante Chr. twenty-feventh day of the month Thargelion, which was 
_ ^^^' Timoleon's birth-day; nor that all the other remarkable en- 
gagements he was concerned in« if Cornelius Nepos may 
, be credited, happened on the fame day. The wonderful 
f uccefs it was attended with, is a full proof of the great force 
of fuperftition : for, next to the violent ftorm above men- 
tioned, this unparalleled viAory was owing to the happy 
turn Timoleon gave to a frivolous incident, confidered as ft 
fatal omen °*. 
wfAuh oc' The news of fo fignal a viflory obtaitied over the pro* 
^fijoMs fcffed enemies of the Greek name, could not but be highly 
^atCormth agreeable to the people both at Corinth and Syracufe, efpe- 
fiwd Syru" cially as it was likely to be attended with fuch happy confe- 
^Hff* quences. The Corinthians adorned their temples with the 

Carthaginian fpoils, which they hung up with infcription*, 
importing, that the people of Corinth, and Timoleon their 

?;eneral, offered them to the gods as an acknowlegemcnt 
or making them the inftrument^ of delivering Sicily from 
Carthaginian fcrvitude. Timoleon having left his roerce^ 
narics upon the enemies frontiers, in order to plunder and 
ravage their whole country, returned to Syracufe with tbc 
reft of his army, where he was received with all poffih* 
demonftrations of joy. It is worthy obfervation, that all 
the punifliment he infli£l:ed upon the thoufand «aercenanci, 
who were' accomplices of Thracius« for tbeif infamoas de- 
fertion, was only banifhment from Syracufe. Howeve/j »« 
ordered them all to depart before fun*fet. 

" "Plat, & Diodor. ubi fup. Com. Nep. in Vit, TimoK cap. 5* 
Poly»n. $(fat« lib. v. cap. ia« ex* i. 

Icetasi 



7 he Hiflory of the Carthagimans, 33 • 

IcetaS)^ after this tranfafkion, being tired with his private ' j^gf^, coa* 
ftation, (hewed an inclination to reinftate himfelf, if poffi- dudes an. 
ble^ in his dominions; and with this view found means^ other treaty 
in eonjundioh with Mamercus, tyrant of Catana, to conclude ^^'^/f ' 
another treaty with the Carthaginians. In confcquence of ^^}^" 
this alliance^ that nation equipped a fleet of feventy fail, * 

and took a ftrong body of Greeks, of whofe valour they 
had now a great opinion, into their fervice^ intending to* 
try th^ir fortune once more in Sicily. Gifco, the brother 
of Hanno, a general of great experience and bravery, was 
racatled from baftiihment to command the troops deftined 
fer the new expedition. This intelligence foon reaching 
Sicily^ occafioned frefli commotions. The inhabitants of 
MefTana, entering into an aflbciation againft Timoleon, put 
four hundred of his troops to the fword ; a detachment of 
isnercenaries, under the command of Euthymus the Leuca- 
dian, being drawn into an ambufcade by the Carthaginian 
forces at Hieras^ were cut off; and whiltt Timoleon vs^as orf 
h^ ifiarch to Calauria, Icetas, being reinforced by a Car-^ 
tbdginian party, made an incurfion into the territories of 
S^r^tufe, carrying off a cOnfiderable booty, and, in ton- 
t0tti(>t of Timoleon, paffed by Calau-ria itfdf, whe^-e that 
general was then poft^d. Howevef^ he purfued the tyran€ 
with a body of cavalry, attended Wifh fortie of his light irt»- 
fantry, who could march with expedition. Iceta&, thus 
pnrAied, paffed the river Damyrias with predpitation) and 
drawing up his troops on the other fide, put himfelf in ai 
pdiHure to receive the enemy* In the mean time, a dif{>ute 
arifirig amOngft Timoleon's officers, who could not agre^ 
^hich fhould'pafs the river firft to attack Icetas, the gene** 
ral ordered them to caft lots ; upon which every one threW 
a ring into Timoleon's robe, and the firft that was taken 
d«t and expofed to public view, had the figure of a trophy 
Engraven for a feal upon it. This accident greatly encou- and is * 
fafging the troops, they attacked loctas with incredible bta-^ onter* 
tcry, who not being able to fuftain the fliock, was routedj throtmn hf 
with the lofs of a thoufand men killed upon the fpot, and ^'**''''*^'»- 
f uffued to the city of Leontini. Upon this defeat, the ty* 
i'ant himfelf, his fon Eupolemus, and Euthymus, general 
ti his cavalry, were brought bouiid by, their own foldi^rs 
to Titnoleon. The two firft were imrtiediately executed^ 
ks tyrants and traitors, and the laft murdered in cold blood : 
the wives and daughters of Icetas likewife fuffered death, 
after a public trial. After this viftory, Timoleon moved 
with his forces towards Catana \ arid meeting Mamercus, 
gave him battle in the plains of the river Abolus. The 
difputc was for lome dme warm and bloody \ but at laft the 

tyrant 



334- 3"i^ Hiftoty of the Carth/pnianU 

' tyrant was vanquiihed, his army entirely difperfed, zHd 
above two thoufand men were left dead upon the field of 
battle. As the greateft part of thefe were auxiliarieji fent 
to Mamercus by Gifco, the Carthaginians themfelves fuf- 
fered confiderably in this adlion °. 
Yr. of Fl. Notwithftanding the- warlike preparattox^ they were tnak* 
ftoio. iog at Carthage for the invafion of Sicily, the fenate had. 
Ante Chr. (jg^t ambaifadors to Timolcon to make peace, imaginings 
3^^' perhaps, that he would be the more inclined to a pacifica- 
A Uace tio*** when he faw them in a condition to continue the war. 
concluded The two laft blows given their confederates difpofed themi 
between ftill more (Irongly to an accommodation, to which they< 
^imoleon found Timoleon not averfe, as he was apprehenfive of freih 
^'^th •- ^r^^'Wes from Mamercus and others, againft whom he 
idanu^ wanted to turn his arms. A peace wajs accordingly con- 
cluded on the following terms : that all the Greek cities 
ijhould be declared free ; that th^ river Halycus, or, as Dio- 
dorus and Plutarch both call it, the Lycus» (bould be the 
boundary between the territories of both parties ; that the 
natives of the cities fubje£l to the Carthaginians (hould be 
allowed to withdraw, if they pleafed, to Syracufe, or its 
dependencies, with their, families and.effe£l3} and laftly^ 
that Carthage fhould not for the future afford any afliftance 
to the remaining tyrants againft the Syracufans ^. 
HoMfto M- About this tim^ Hanno, who, according to Juftin's ac- 
dea<uours ^ount, was the moft opulent and powerful citiz<ln in Car- 
lo m^i/ thage, formed a deGgn of fubverting the conftitution, and 
hmjelf Mf* introducing arbitrary power. . In order to accompliih this 
Carthagi, V^\^^> ^^ propofed to invite the fen^tor's to a grand enter- 
tainment on the day of his daughter's marriage ; and, by 
mixing poifon with wine, to deftroy them all, not doubt- 
ing but fuch a tragical event would at once make him maf- 
ter of the republic. Though the plan was laid with great 
fecrecy, yet it was difcovered by fome of his fervants \ but 
his intereft in the city was fo greats that the government 
did not dare punifh fo execrable a crime. The magiftrates 
therefore contented themfelves with paffing a law, prohi- 
biting too great luxury and magnificence .a;t weddings, and 
limiting the expence oh fuch occa(ions« Hanno findiqg his 
Itratagem defeated, ^as refolved to have recourfe to arms; 
for that purpofe he affembled all his flave$, and attempted 
a fecond time to put his defign in execution. However, be 
was again difcovered ; but, to avoid punishment, he retired 
with twenty thoufand armed flaves to a caftle, that was 
very firongly fortified ; and from thence applied to the Afri- 

<^ Plut. & Diodor. ubi fupra. *. Idem ibid* 

canS| 



The Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 335 

c^ns, and the king of the Mauritanii for afliftance, but 
without fuccefs. He was afterwards taken prifoneri and 
carried to Carthage, where being feverely fcourged, his eyes 
were put oat ; his arms and thighs broken ; and at iaft he 
was executed in the prefence of all the people^ to deter, 
others from fuch flagitious attempts. After the execution, 
his body was hung on a gibbet. His children and all hia 
relations, though they had not joined in his guilt, fhared in 
his punithment. They were all fentenced to die, that not; 
a fingle perfon of his family might be left, either to imitate , 
his crime, or revenge his death. Plutarch mentions one 
Hanno as admiral of the Carthaginian fleet, in the begin- 
ning of the late war between Icetas and Timoleon, who 
poflibly might have been the very perfon Juftin reprefents 
as fo infatuated with ambition. 

It was probably at this period that Tyrian ambaflTadors 
arrived at Carthage^ to implore the ailidance of that potent 
republic agafnft Alexander. The extremity to* which theii: 
countrymen (for fo thefe two ftates always called one an- 
other) were reduced, touched the Carthaginians in a moil: 
feafibie manner, though, by reafon of domeftic troubles,^ 
they were then Incapable of fending tliem any fuccours. 
However, though they were unable to relieve, they at leaft 
thought it their duty to confole them on this melancholy 
occaGon ;^.and theretore difpatched to Tyre thirty of their 
principal citizens to exprefs their grief, that the bad fitua- 
tion of their own affairs would not permit them to fpare any 
troops. The Tyrians, though fruftrated of their hopes, did 
not defpond, but took the neceiTary me^fures for a vigorous 
defence. Their wives and children they put on board 
fome veflelsy in order to fend them to Carthage ; and then 
made the mod ftrenuous efforts to drive the enemy from 
their walls. 

The Carthaginians, hearing of the reduftion of Tyre, and ^^' Car* 
the great progrefs Alexander made in the Eaft, began to be ^^^g^^^*^ 
under fome apprehenfions for their own fafety, fearing that -^J/^^^^* 
prince's good fortune might be as boundlefs as his ambi- Rhodanut 
tion. But they were much more alarmed, when they re- to AUxan- 
ceived advice that he had made himfelf mafter- of Egypt, ^^* 
was advancing towards the We(l> and had built Alexan- 
dria upon the confines of Egypt and Africa, in order to 
rival them in commerce. They imagined now he might in 
reality have an intention to unite Africa and Afia under his 
dominion, and afpire to univcrfal monarchy. They there- 
fore chofc Hamilcar (or, as Gellius intimates, Afdrubal), 
furnamed Rhodanus, to found the inclinations of that prince. 
Rbodanus being a perfon oi wonderful addrefa, as well as 

great 



* jg The Hifiory of the Carthagmians. 

great eloquence, made it his utmoft endeavour to inGnnaid 
himfelf into Alexander's favour. Having obtained an au- 
dience by means of Parmcnio, he declared to the king, that 
he was, hj the cabals of his enemies, baniftied Carthage, 
and begged he might have the honour to attend him in all 
his future expeditions ; which requeft being granted, he did 
his country fignal fervice by communicating many import- 
ant difcoveries relating to Alexander's fchemes. The man- 
ner of this communication being fomewhat fingular, we 
fliall tranfcribe it from Gellius. He prepared tables of 
wood, in which he cut out the letters or charafters of his 
epiftle, and afterwards covering them with wax, as was the 
cuftom of that age, without any charafters upon it, fent 
them away as blanks. This contrivance the people at Car- 
thage being before acquainted with, decyphered the con-^ 
fents. We do not find that Alexander ever difcovercd the 
treachery of this Carthaginian, or even entertained the leaft 
fufpicion of him; which is a farther proof of the refined 
genius of that nation for works of intrigue. Upon his re^ 
turn, notwithftanding his eminent lervi"ces, he was confi- 
dered as a betrayer t>f his country, aitd was accordingly 
p\it to death at Catthage, by a fentence as barbarous as it' 
wa^ urtgrateful P. 

In the fecond year of the i r4fh Olympiad, Thimbroj 
after he had affaffinated his friend Harpalus in Crete, failed 
with a body of mercenaries to Cyrenaica 5 and being jomed 
by fome exiles, who were perfeftly well acquainted with 
^11 the pafles, endeavoured to make himfelf mafter of that 
Country. The natives being defeated by him, were obliged 
to apply to the Carthaginians, whofe dominions were con- 
tiguous to theirs, for relief; which they thought that ftate, 
in point of good policy, could not well refnfe. This cir- 
cumftance we learn from Diodorus ; but as the whole 
country was immediately after conquered by Ophellus, and 
. . delivered into the hands of Ptolemy, it is X'ery probable the 
Carthaginians were not then able to affift them. 
Yr. of Fl. ^ f^w years afterwards, Sofiftratus, who had ufuiped the 
2031. fupreme power at Syracufe, having been forced by Aga- 
Ante Chr. thocles to raife the Cege of Rhegium, returned with his 
3'^' fhattered troops to Sicily ; but foon after this unfuccefsful 
TheSvra' expedition, he was obliged to abdicate the fovereignty, and 
fufa/ts tleS 9"it Syracufe. With him were expelled above fix hundred 
AgathocUs of the principal citizens fufpe£led by the populace to have 
thtir geni' fo|:med a defign of altering the plan of government, which 
^ScMf^ then prevailed in that city, as we have already related in 

P Jodin. lib, xxi. cap, 6. Aul. Gell. Nod. Att..]ib. xvti. cap. 9. 

the 



7^^ Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 33 y 

the hiftory of Syracufe. As Sofiftratus and tfie exiles 
thought themfelves ill treated, they had recourfe to the Car* 
thagitiians, who readily efpoufed their caufe. Hereupon 
the Syracufans recalling Agathocles, who had before been 
banifhed by Sofiflratus, appointed him commander in chief 
of all their forces, on account of the known averfioh he 
bore to the tyrant. The Carthaginians fupplying Sofiftratus 
with troops, he immediately aifembled an army, and ad- 
vanced at the head of it, to do himfelf, and his fix hundred 
adherents, juftice. After the two armies approached one 
another, feyeral marches and counter-marches, and even 
fome fkirmifties happened, each fide endeavouring to gain 
fome material advantage. Agathpcles, in all thefe military 
movements, acquired great reputation, both for his valour 
and policy *>. 

This war did not continue long; for Sofiftratus and x};^^^ ^g^t^ocJes 
exiles being foon received again into the city, a treaty of do nothing 
peace was concluded between Carthage and Syracufe. The at Syracufi 
Syr acufans, now finding that Agathocles began to exercife to thepn* 
a fbvereign power over his fellow-citizens, and take fuch j^'^tce of 
xneafures as plainly (hewed that he aimed at monarchy, had ^"^j^^ 
recourfe again to Corinth for a general to command their 
forces. Accordingly Aceftorides was fent to fill Kis poft, 
who, upon his arrival, found that Syracufe could never en- 
joy a perfeft tranquility as long as Agathocles was alive ; 
and therefore formed a defign of difpatching him, which he 
attempted to execute in the manner we have related in the 
hiftory of Syracufe. But Agathocles by a ftratagem eluded 
that attempt ; and making his efcape, raifed a body of forces 
in the heart of the ifland, with which he prepared to attack 
Syracufe. The Carthaginians, informed of his defign, were 
ftruck with terror as well as the people of Syracufe 5 and 
therefore, at the inftigation of the former, the latter thought 
proper to re-admit him^ to avoid the fatal confequences of 
a civil war. However, he was* obliged to fwear in a folemn 
manner, that he would do nothing to the prejudice of the 
democracy '. . . . • 

(*^otwith{landing the folemn oath he had taken, Aga- But Bnalt 
thocles Hill purfued the point he bad before in view, and, ^^'^ *«^^i 
by a general maflacre of the principal citizens, at laft raifed ^^^^^* 
himfelf to the throne of Syracufe. Not content with this treaty with 
fovereignty, he propofed to turn his arms againft the other the Mr/a« 
cities of Sicily, defigning to make himfelf mafter of the mant. 
whole ifland. Beginning therefore with MefTana, he feized 
upon a fort in the territory of that city; and, being in- 

^ Diod. Sic. lib. xix. cap. i. f Idem ibid, JaIHa* liU xxii. 

Vol. XV, Z formed 



J j8 9^^ Hiflory of the Carthaginians. 

formed that the walls were in a ruinous condition, he at- 
tempted at the head of a body of horfe to furprife Meffana 
itfelf ; but being difappointed, he laid fiege to the caftle of 
Mylae» which farrendered at difcretion. Soon after he re- 
hewed his attempt upon Mefiana \ but the citizens, knoNxr- 
ing what treatment they Were to expeft if the city fell into 
his hands, defended themfelves with great bravery, and re- 

Yr. of FK pulfed him in feveral attacks. In the mean time^ the Car- 
*o34- thaginians, being applied to, fent ambafl'^dors, complaining 

Ante Chr. ^f ^^j^ ^ notorious infraftion of former treaties. The ty- 
^ rant, at that time not willing to draw upon himfelf the 

whole power of Carthage, fubmitted to the terms prcfcribed; 
and in confequence of a peace with the people of MefTana, 
concluded by the mediation of Carthage, he not only with- 
drew his army from before their city, but reftored likeiikrife 
4the caftle of Mylx. Upon which the Carthaginian ambaf- 
fadors, having happily executed their commiffion, returned 
to Africa. 

fktcMfi' But the reftlcft fpirit of Agathocles would not fuSer Kim 

'^Uitm^itUs *^ ^ ^"^^^' ^'^^ ^^^''^® therefore of Gel a, Mcffana, and 
Miakta Agrigcntum, entered into a confederacy againft him, and 
fioce with lent to the Lacedaemonians for a general, not daring to 
Aim* truft any of their own principal citizens, fufpedling them to 

be too much inclined to arbitrary power. But finding that 
Acrotatus, who came from Sparta to command their forces, 
was more cruel and bloody than even Agathocles himfelf, 
they not only refufed to a« under his condud, but even at- 
tempted to ilone him.. Hamilcar therefore, the Carthagi* 
nian general, judging this a favourable jun£lure to accom- 
modate matters between Agathocles and the confederated 
cities, propofed a treaty of peace to both parties, which was 
at lafl ratiiied upon the following conditions: firft, that the 
Carthaginians (liould remain in pofieffion of Heraclca> Seli- 
nus, and Himera 5 and fecondly, that all the other cities de- 
pendent on the Syracufans (hould be governed by their own 
laws. By this treaty it appears, that the cities above men- 
tioned were at that time greatly in the intereft of the Car- 
< thaginians. ' 

AgafhoiUt Agathocles, perceiving his fubjefts difpofed to fecond his 
\^'t9 ^ " ambitious views, ftewed as little regard to this laft treaty as 
he had before done to his oath ; therefore, in violation 61 
the fecond article, he firft made war on the neighbouring 
ftates, and afterwards carried his arms into the very heart 
of the ifland. He was attended in thefe expeditions witb 
fttch extraordinary fuccefs, that in the fpace of two years be 
entirely fubdued all the Greek part of Sicily. This rapid 
progrels alarmed the Carthaginians, who (aw their territo- 

rici 



Th^ Hljl'ory of the CarthaglntMS^ 3^9 

j4efe threatened with the fapie fate, efpecblly as the tyraajt 
iiad ftrengthened faimfelf by many alliances, and befides ^ 
powerful army, compofed of his own forces, and thofe 0|f 
his allies, had a body of mercenaries, confifting of ten thou- 
faad foot, and above three thouland horfe, all excellenjt 
droops. On the other hand, Agathoclcs, being fenfible th^ 
hoth .his power and proQcedii^s gave great umbrage to thp 
Carthaginians, and that they were very angry with Hamil* 
car for being in;ftrum^ntal in concluding the late pefte, 
made all the ncccffary preparations, not only to pat himfeljf 
into a good pofture of defence, but even to ^Ol ofFenfively 
in cafe of a war with Carthage. Things being in this fi- 
iuation, it was morally impoi&ble but that a rupture muijt 
Xoon enfue \ 

It is intimated by Juftin, that Agathocles was at firft fup- Hiemmtti 
ported by the Carth;igintans, or rather by Hamilcar, their gnat dg- 
general in Sicily ; and that the tyrant effefted the maflacrc P^^^^^^^ns 
above mentioned by the affiftance of five thoufand Africans JJ/^^/^'^ 
fent him by Hamilcar* After the reduction of the other tke Car- 
parts of Sicily, he made incurfions into the Carthaginian thaginioMu 
territories, and thofe of their allies, where he committed 
greart depredations, Haniilcar not giving him the leaft dif- 
turbance. ^ This connivance highly incenfcd the people of 
thofe diftrifts, who confidered themfelves as betrayed by 
Hamilcar ; and therefore fent letters to Carthage, fillea 
.With bitter complaints of his perfidious condu£l, and Aga- - 

thodes's tyranny; adding, that, by the late infamous peace, 
maay cities in alliance with ^Carthage had been facrificec^ ' 

and delivered into the tyrant*s hands. This remonftrance 
greatly exafperated the fenate ; but as Hamilcar was in- 
^vefted with great power in Sicily, they fufpended their re- 
fentment till the arrival of Hamilcar, the fon of Gifco. In 
the mean time, they came to a vigorous refolution concerns 
ing him : they did not think proper however to declare it 
t>penly, but threw all the fufirages that pafled it into aa 
urn, which they fealed up, till the other Hamilcar came 
from Sicily. The general, being furprifed by death, efcaped 
l>uni{hment ; and Hamilcar, the fon of Gifco, was appointed 
to fucceed him in the command of the forces. This inci'- 
dent haftened the rupture between Agathocles and the 
Carthaginians *. 

The lait place that held out agatnfl: Agathocles was Mef« Heenurt 
fana, whither all the Syracufan exiles had retired. His intaa/e' 
general Pafiphilus at firft marched againft it with an army j ^^"/^ ireatp 
buthavingpfevioufly received inftrudions from Agathocles ^"^'^^ 

* Diod. Sk. ubi Tap. cap. 5. & Juftin. ubi fupra. < Juftin. ubi fup. ^''^* 

Z 2 to 



340 ^f Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 

to ^€t as lie (hould think proper for the good of his fervice, 
and finding that force would prove inem:£lual, he feduced 
the inhabitants into a treaty. This Agathocles Hkewife iti^ 
fringed when in poiTciGon of the town, deftroying all who 
had formerly oppofed his government. For, as he intended 
to profecute the war againft Carthage vrith the utnioft vi- 
gour, he thought it a point of good policy to cut off, if pof- 
fible, all his enemies in Sicily °. 
ThtCar- In the mean time the Carthaginians arrived with a fleet 
ihaginiams of fixty fail at Agrigentum, and forced Agathocles to defift 
f^^f^^J^^ from an attempt upon that place, which he had proje£ted ; 

frielmSMm* ^^^ *^ ^^^T ^^^ "^' brought a fufficient body of land-forces, 
he ravaged the adjacent country, plundered the fubjeftsof 
the Carthaginians, and took feveral of their forts by ftorm. 
Whilft he was thus employed, another Carthaginian fqua* 
dron of fifty (hips entered the great harbour of Syracufe, 
and funk two tranfpoits (one of them an Athenian), which 
were all the veilels then in port. The Carthaginians, ac- 
cording to their ufual cruelty, cut ofF the hands of all thofe 
they found on board, thougn they had not oflFered them the 
leaft injury, it being impoifible to make any refiftance. 
This barbarity was ioon retaliated by Agathocles upon the 
Carthaginians. For feveral of their gallies, having been fe- 
parated from the reft of the fleet upon the coaft of Italy, 
fell into his hands ^. 
Tht Car- The Carthaginians, being informed that Agathocles had 
tAagixians pillaged their territories in oicily, and that his forces were 
to^^fiU ^^^^ numerous upon the frontiers, refolved to aflemble an 
armf toop» ^rmy, in order to reduce that tyrant. As they had received 
pofihim. advice^ that he had oflPered battle to a confiderable body of 
their troops pofted upon the hill Ecnomos, who were 
obliged to decline the engagement, they were determined 
to purfue the war with redoubled vigour. Having therefore 
reinforced the troops intended for the Sicilian expedition 
with two thoufand Carthaginians, among whom were many 
perfons of quality, a thoufand Etrufcan mercenaries, as 
many flingers from the Balearic iflands, and two hundred 
chariots;; they tranfported them to that ifland, under, the 
command of Hamilc^r, to reftrain the tyrant's conquefts. 
The fleet, confiding of a hundred and thirty capital ihips, 
was difperfed by ♦a violent ftorm^ in which ]^amilcar loft 
fixty (hips of war, and two hundred tranfports, with a great 
number of men. Many perfons of the heft families of Car- 
thage were loft by this difafter, which caufed a public la- 
mentation in that city, when the walls were all hung with 

n Diod. Sic. ubi fupra, cap. 6. w iijem ibid. 

« black* 



The Hijlory of the Cart^agmtam. 341 

Uack. Hamilcar, notwithftanding his lofs> being jgined on 
his arrival by the Sicilians who hated AgathocTeSy founds 
.upon a mufter, that his army confided of forty thoufand 
foot and five thoufand horfc. With thefe he took the 
field, and encamped near the city of Himera, intending to 
attack the enemy as foon as a fair opportunity (bould 
offer '. 

In the mean time Agathocles, finding the Carthaginians Agathoclgs 
much fuperior to him, concluded that many cities would join* d^fi^^'^ h 
them, particularly Gela. What confirmed him in this opi- Jzl • •'^" 
nion was, a fevere blow he had lately received, twenty of nearlU^ 
his gallies, with all the troops on board, having fallen into nura. 
the hands of the Carthaginians. To prevent the inhabi- 
tants of Gela from declaring againil him, he found means 
to introduce a party of his troops into the town, who not 
only pillaged it, but put four thoufand of the citizens to 
the fword, threatening to ufe thofe who did not immedi* 
ately produce their treafure in the fame manner. Having 
thus filled his coffers, and left a ftrong garrifon in the place, 
he moved with his forces towards the Carthaginians ; and 
poffefiing himfelf of an eminence oppofi te to the enemy, en- 
camped on it. The Carthaginians had pofted themfelves 
upon the hill Ecnomos, on which Phalaris's caftle, where 
he tortured offenders in his brazen bull, formerly ftood ; 
and i^athocles poffeffed another of that tyrant's caftles, 
which from him was called Phalerios, upon the oppofite 
height, being feparated from Hamilcar by a river which ran 
between the two camps. .As a prophecy or tradition had 
long prevailed, that a great battle fliould be fought on the 
banks of this river, in which a vaft carnage ihould be made, 
neither fide for a long time (hewed any difpofition to begin 
the attack, both armies having a fuperftitious panic upon 
them. At laft a party of Africans, out of bravado^ pafied 
the river ; and another of Agathocles's troops, to return the 
compliment, did the fame ; and this emulation brought on 
a general ad^ion ; for the Sicilians, driving off fome cattle 
and beafts of burden belonging to the enemy, were purfued 
by a Carthaginian' detachment, which, immediately upon 
its arrival on the oppofite bank, fell into an ambufcade 
that Agathocles had contrived to intercept it \ and not hav-* 
ing time to form itfelf, was eafily routed. This fuccefs 
greatly encouraged Agathocles, who immediately leaving 
his camp, attacked Hamilcar with his whole army, and with 
incredible bravery forced his trenches ; though he fuftain* 
cd great lof$ from the flingers of the Balearic iilands, who 

'Piod. Sic* ubifupra, cap. 7* 

Z3 ^ wiA 



^4t f^^ Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 

Wftli ftofi«8 of ar large fize demoliflied the (hields and ^r^ 
mour of his foldiers, and deftroyed a great number of men : 
but at this critical jun£lure a ftrong reinforcement unexpe3« 
^dly arrived from Carthage, which entirely changed ttic face 
6f affairs : lor the Sicilians, having before made tbe>r ut** 
inoft efibrtS) became greatly dejefled upon the arrival of thefe 
fuccours, and, almoft as foon as the enemy rallied, fled^ 
and were fo clofely purfued, that all the plains of the Hi- 
mera were covered with dead bodies. '1 he heats being thert 
cxceffive, great numbers alfc, who were ready to peri(h with 
ihirft, drank too copioufly of the river-water, which was 
fait and brack^fh, and thereby loft their lives. The Cartha* 
ginians had five hundred men killed in this battle, but Aga* 
thocles at leaft feven thoufand y. 
ThpiopU After this defeat, Agathocles, collefling the fcattered re- 
•fCatanat mains of his army, burnt his camp, and retired with preci- 
Camarma, p\^2LiioTi to Gela. He had not been long there, before fomc 
Tanromini* of his troops, decoyed three hundred African horie into the 
vj», jiifa place, all of whom to a man he cut off. The tyrant re- 
€^ftum, m *ined fome time in Gela^ that he might draw the enemy 
and ^^f^r to that city, and thereby prevent the fiege of Syracufe, till 
§9 tjim, ^^^ inhabitants of that place had got in^their barveft. Ha- 
tnilcar, being informed that Gela was defended by a ftronf 
garrifon, fupplied abundantly with all forts of provifionsi 
and military ftores, did not make an attempt upon it, 
but contented himfelf with reducing the forts and caftles irl 
the neighbourhood of that place, all of which furrendercd 
upon the firft fummons. As he behaved in a very affable 
manner, the people of Camarina,.Catana, Leontium, and 
Taurominium, fent ambafladors to implore his proteftionj 
as did foon after thofe of Meflaifa and Abacsenum, though 
they were before at variance amongft themfelves* In fuch 
utter abhorrence did the people over the whole ifland hold, 
the tyrant, and all his adherents *. 
Ag«thoctes Agathocles, finding the Carthaginian general not difpofed 
/huts htm- jQ undertake either the fiege of Gela or Syracufe, repaired 
Svracufi. ^^ ^^^ latter of thefe places ; and having filled his maga- 
fines, reinforced the garrifon, and completed aU the worksi 
he fhut himfelf up within the walls of his metropolis. Thi- 
ther the Carthaginians followed him, and laid clofe fiege to 
that important place, upon the fate of which depended that 
of the whole ifland. 
TV Car' Agathocles, finding himfelf deferted by his allies, and his 
tha^inians capital itfelf upon the point of falling into the enemy's hands, 
fujb on the formed a defign, which, were U not attefted by fome wri» 

Jiegeofthat o * ? i 

ten 



' 7be Hiftory of the Carthaglniani. 34 j 

ters of undoubke({ authority, would feem abfolutely incre- 
dible. This was, to transfer the war into Africa, and in- 
veft Carthage, at a time when he was himfelf befieged, and 
had only one city left in Sicily : but before he departed from 
3yracufe, he made the necefiary difpofitions for the defence 
of the place; and appointed his brother Antandrus governor 
of it. He alfo gave permiiSon to all perfons, who were not 
willing to endure^the fatigues of a fiege, to retire from the 
town;' which many of the principal citizens, Juftin fay^ 
fixteen hundred, accepted of : but they had fcarce evacu- 
ated the place, when they were cutoff by parties pofted up- 
on the roads for that purpofe. Having feized upon their 
eftates, he raifed a confiderable fum to defray the expence 
of the expedition he was going upon. However, he car- 
ried with him 9nly fifty talents to fupply his prefent wants, 
being affured that he (hould find in the enemy's country 
fufficient fupplies. The people could not conjecture what 
defign he intended to execute. Some imagined his inten- 
tion was to to fail to the coaft of Italy or Sardinia, to plun- ' 
der thofe countries; others, that he propofed ravaging that 
part of Sicily belonging to the Carthaginians ; but rooft per- 
fons agreed, that he nad engaged in a defperate project. 
As the Carthaginians had a much fuperior fleet, they for 
fome time kept the mouth of the harbour blocked up : but 
at laft a fair opportunity offering, Agathocles hoifted fail, 
and, by the aAivity of his rowers, foon cleared boj^h the port 
and city of Syracufe *. 

The Carthaginians, upon the firft fight of the tyrant's fleet, jffler a 
immediately prepared for adlion : but obferving that this flight en* 
fquadron continued its courfe, and was far before them, y«^^w«»' 
they immediately gave chace, crowding all the fail pof&ble. 'carthali" 
However, Agathocles fo exerted himfelf, that, night com- nianfliet, 
ing on, they loft fight of him.. Next day a remarkable he maku 1 
cclipfe of the fun happened, when the ftars appeared, and ^ffant 
the day feemed to be turned into night. As the Sicilians '^^'*'' 
were extremely fuperftitious, this event ftruck the troops on 
board with terror, every one believing it to be a. prefage of 
their approaching deftru£lion : but Agathocles revived the 
drooping courage of his. foldiers, by faying, that if they had 
fcen this before their departure from Sicily, it would have 
portended a difappointment ; but that, as it happened af- 
terwards, it predicted a train of difafters to the Carthagi- 
nians, whofe dominions t-hey were going to invade. He 
farther obferved^ that the(e eclipfes always foretold fome 



* Dlod. Sic. lib. xx. cap. i. ic Juflin. ubi £dpra« OroC lib, iv. 
t*o1y»n. Sirat. lib. v. cap, 3. ex. 5- 

Z 4 snftant 



044 ^^^ Hijory of the Cartbaginians. 

inftant change ( that therefore bappinefs was abandoning 
the enemy, and coming over to them. The Carthaginian 
admiral, having failed fix days and fix nights fteering bis 
courie towards Africa, at laft came up wjth the Syracufan 
fleet, then at no great diftance from the (bore. As both 
fquadrons had the coaft of Africa in view, the Carthaginians 
made the utmoft efforts to attack Agathocies before he could 
land his troops; and on the other band the tyrant, dreading 
his fate, if he fell into the hands of fo cruel an enemy, was 
no lefs aQive in his endeavours to land, before the Cartha- 
ginians could engage him. In fhort, he had juft begun to 
execute his defign, when part of the Carthaginian fquadron 
coming up with his rear, a flight engagement enfued. The 
weapons chiefly ufed on this occafion were bows and flings, 
the vefTels not being clofe enough to grapple. As but a 
fmall part of the Carthaginian fleet found it pofSble to en* 
gage, and the mariners were quite tired with rowing, Aga- 
thpcles gained the advantage; whereupon the Carthaginians, 
tacking about, flood off to fea. This motion gave him an 
opportunity of making a defcent at a place called the Quar- 
ries, without any farther oppofition **. 
Soon affff Agathocies having landed his forces in the enemy's coun* 
tis landing try, and. fecured his fhipping by a breaft-work or parapet, 
^5 ^r"' offered 2^ folemn facrifice to Ceres and Proferpina, the guar^ 
Pi*J *P^' dians of Sic4Jy. After this ceremony he fummoned a coun- 
cil of war, compofed of fuch officers as were entirely at his 
devotion. Here he appeared in his royal robes, and ac- 
quainted them, that when they were fo clofely purfued by 
the. Carthaginians, he had applied to the two goddeflfes, 
promifmg, upon his arrival in Africa, to confecrat^ all the 
vefTels of the fquadron to them, by reducing them to fo 
many burning lamps. Since therefore they were now deli- 
vered from the enemy, he faid his intention was to perform 
his vow by burning the whole fleet, j He then exhorted 
them to diftinguifh themfelves on theprefent occafion, der 
daring that by the facrifices the gods promifed great fuc- 
cefs. Amongfl other motives urged for this defperate ac- 
tion, Agathocies lik^wife informed them^ that the cities of 
Africa were not fortified and built on mountains, as in Si- 
jcily, and therefore could not make any defence; and that 
the immenfe wealth of Carthage mufl: foon infallibly be- 
come the reward of their valour. He concluded with de^ 
firing them not to be alarmed at the lofs of their (hips, fincc 
the goddeflTes would hereafter return them a far greater 

b Diodor. Sic. & Juftin. ^h^ Aipra. S. Jul. prontin. Strat. lib. i. 
fap. 12. ex* 9. 

number* 



The Hijory of the Carthaginians. 345 

tiumber. Having uttered thefe words a foldier brought hini 
a torch^ which he eagerly feizing, went on board his own 
fliip, and fet it on fire. His example was chearfully follow- 
ed by all the officers and men ; fo that the troop» hav- 
ing no time to reflcft on the confequence, the whole fleet 
was immediately confumed. This feems to have been one 
of the moftdefperate anions recorded in hiftory*. 

AgathocleSy after he had deftroyed his (hips, marched at ffe ad- 
the head of his troops againft a place in the territories of nuances to* 
Cstrthage, called the Great City, leaving the foldiers no w^^'^-f 
time for refleftion. This, after a feeble rcfiftance, he ^^J^^^^* 
took by ftorm. As he was defirous of infpiring his troops a place 
with frefti courage, he abandoned to them the plunder ^tof called the 
the place, which was very confiderable. That this was a Great 
town of importance, and called in the Punic language Sa- ^*^* 
math, Sumeth, or Samatho, is evident from Alexander 
Polyhiftor, Stephanus, and others. 

From hence the tyrant moved with his army to Tunes, a Helihe^ 
city of eminence in the neighbourhood of Carthage, which nmfetaket 
being intimidated by fo unexpefted a vifit, immediately ^««w. 
furrendered. The tjoops would willingly have refted here, 
as well as at Samatho, for fome time j but Agathocles mak- 
ing them place all hopes of fafety in viftory, levelled both 
thofe places with the ground, and encamped in the open 
fields. 

In the mean time the Carthaginians on board the gallies, TTieCar* 

that came up with Agathocles, juft before he made his de- tfiaginians 

fcent, expreffed great joy upon feeing: the Sicilian fhips in a ^^fS^'^^bi 
ui • • • *u- XI -u* f^ L .u nr CL c c alarmed at 

blaze, imaginmg this conflagration to be the. effect of fear ; thi^ fHQtiou* 

' but they were of another opinioil when they obferved the 
enemy marching in good order into the country, being then 
convinced that a pu(h was intended to be made at Carthage > 
itfclf. They immediately fpread a great number of hides upon 
the forecaftlcs of their (hips, which was a conftant (ignal 
of fome impending public calamity. They alfo carried on 
board their own veflels the iron beaks belonging to the Si- 
cilian (hips that had been deftroyed, and difpatched an ex- 
prefs to Cartharge to give the fenate a particular account of 
every event that had happened : but the whole country was 
fo alarmed upon the firft appearance of the enemy's fqua- 
dron on the African coaft, that, before his arrival, intelli- 
gence of their unexpefied defcent had reached Carthage, 
and thrown the whole city into the utmoft terror and con- 
fuGon. They concluded, that their army before Syracufe 
jiad been defeated^ and their fleet loft \ for that, in any , 

^ pip^* $ic« Juftin* frontin PolysAt & Orof. ubi fupra. 

other 



$4^ 



BMi maki 
frefara^ 
twus to 
gwH the 
inemfa 



The Hiftory of the Cartbaginiam. 

* other fituation of affairs, it was poffible for Agathocka to 
leave Syracufo, and pafs over into Africa, they coul4 nojt 
baiieve« The people ran with trembling hearts to the i^ar« 
ket^pl^ce, while the fenate aflembled in a tumultuous man- 
ner to deliberate how they might fave the city, which the 
▼i£korious enemy was with rapid marches advancing to be* 
fiege. They had no army in readinefs to oppofe the enemy; 
and their imminent danger did not permit them to wait till 
farces were levied among their allies. Some therefore ad vifed 
fending ambafiadors to Agathocles to propofe an accommo- 
49tion, and at the fame time to difcover the pollure of tfaf 
enemy } others apprehended it would be better to receive 
a more perfeft intelligence of the true (late of affairs before 
any public ftep waSvtaken ; and this opinion prevailed ^, 

Whilft the city was in this agitation, the courier fentby 
the Carthaginian admiral arrived, and informed the fenate 
of the de(lru£lion of the Sicilian fleet, and that Agathocles 
was advancing with his army into the heart of their domi- 
nions. However, he told them, that their troops in Sicily 
were all fafe, and in good condition ; that they puftied 04 
the fiege of Syracufe with the utmpft vigour; that the body 
of forces under Agathocles was not very confiderable ; and 
that the advantage he had lately gained by fea, was attende4 
with no other confequence in his favour than enabling him 
barely to land his troops. This intelligence calmed the 
minds of the people, fo that by degrees they recovered from 
the panic they were lately throwi^ into ; though the fenate 
feverely reprimanded the officers for their negligence ia 
fufTering the enemy to make a defcent when they were maf- 
ters at fea> It was now refolved that the citizens (hould be 
armed, and accordingly in a few days they raifed an army 
of forty thoufand infantry and a thoufand cavalry, with two 
thoufand armed chariots. They appointed Hanno and Bo- 
milcar to command the forces, notwithftanding the feud 
that had long fubfifted between their refpeflfive families, 
hoping that, forgetting private animofities, they would 
jointly exert themlelves in the defence of their country, and 
not permit any family quarrels to interfere with the public 
welfare. In this hope however they were deceived, for 
Bomilcar having long thirfted after arbitrarv power, pafliop- 
ately wiflied for an opportunity of fubverting the forna qi 
government at Carthage ; which defign, believing the poft 
above mentioned would enable him to ex^ecute, he ac- 
cepted of It with that view only. As the Carthaginians 
frequently brought falfe accufations againd thejir general 



' Piod* &* jf Jijtlftin. ubi fupra* 



after 



Th« H^efy of the Carthaglmans. 



347 



after the conclufion of a peace, andf through envy put many 
of them maft unjuftly to death, it is not furprifmg that 
fometimes, in order to a?oid fuch perfidious treatment, 
they either refigned their commiffions, or attempted tp in- 
troduce arbitrary power •. 

In the mean tJme Agathocles committed great ravages, Agathocles 
demoliihing feveraf caftles, and burning many villages on commits 
bis march, though his army did not confift of above four- ^^'^^ 1^* 
tccn thoufand men. The Carthaginian generals, to make j^i^a ^ 
a diverfion, immediately took the field, and advancing to- 
wards him with great celerity, poffefled thefnfclves of an 
eminence in fight of his camp, and drew up their forces in 
order of battle; Hanno commanded the right wing, fup- 
ported by the (I) facred cohort ; Bomilcar conduced the 
left, making his phalanx very deep, fince the nature of the 
ground wtDuld not permit him to extfend his wing farther in 
front ; and the cavalry and chariots were placed as ufual in 
the van. Agathocles, on the other fide, made a proper dif- 
pofition of his forces, which were compofed of Syracufans, 
Samnites, Etrufcans, Celtes, and Greek mercenaries. The 
right wing he committed to the conduft of his fon Archa- 
gathus; the other, at th^ head of the troops of the houf- 
hold, and a thoufand cuiraffiers, oppofite to the Carthagi- 
nian facred cohort, he commanded himfelf; and laflily, the 
dingers and archers, to the number of five hundred, were 
diftributed in both wings to the greateft advantage. Find- 
ing many of his foldiers unarmed, he obliged them to draw 
the covers and cafes of fhields over a quantity of rods col- 
leded for that purpofe, and to carry thofe before them, as 
if they had been real. By this ftratagem, though none of 
the moft refined, he impoled upon the enemy, and prevent- 
ed the nakednefs of his troops from being expofed to their 
view ^ 

Agathocles was in great confternation when he faw fo 
numerous an army ready to engage him. However, he dit 



« Died. Sic*. ubi«fupra. 

(I) The facred cohort confift- 
ed of the fbns of fenators, and 
the prime nobility, who feem 
to have had their tents placed 
near that of the general. The 
precife number of this corps 
cannot be determined ; but 
from Appian we may con- 
clude, that it confifted of about 
&ur thoufand men* It was 



' Idem ibid. 

known to the Romans by 
the appellations facra cohors, 
flipatores, praetoriani, dele£ta 
cohors, and anfwered to the 
evocati and able6li of that na- 
tion. In ftiort, it was a body 
compofed of volunteers of dif- 
tindlion, who might be efteem- 
ed as the general's guard and 
particular mends. 

fembled 



'^48 ^^^ Hiftwy of the Carthagmans. 

mnd #»• femUed his fear» and, in order to encourage his men, who 
tirtlj ovtT' were quite difpirited, and under great apprehenfions of the 
throws enem/s horfe and chariotSf he rcleafed fevcral owls, which 
thtm. ^g ^^^ before prepared for that purpofe. Thefe flying about 

the camp, and lighting on the foldiers (hields, fo raifed their 
fpirits, that they began to advance againft the enemy, not 
doubting but by the aiEftance of Minerva, to whom that 
bird was facred» they (hould gain a complete vi£l:ory. The 
firft charge was made by the enemy's chariots and cavalry 
intermixed i but the body of Sicilian troops oppofed to 
them, not only withftood their efforts with incredible bra^ 
very, but pierced fon^e of them through with darts and 
arrows, and drove the reft back into the midft of their own 
fbot. This repulfe naturally threw the foot into confufion, 
and occafioned the defeat of the horfe ; for thefe, finding 
themfelves deprived of their principal fupport, were eafily 
broken, and never afterwards made the leaft attempt to rally. 
However, Hanno, with the facred cohort, which confifted of 
the flower of the troops, fuftained a long time the fury of the 
enemy, and even put them in diforder; but being overwhelm- 
ed with (bowers of darts^ and covered with wounds, he fell, 
fighting bravely to the laft. His death occafioning the right 
wing to give ground, infpired Agathocles and his troops 
with fuch ardor, that they bore down all before them, 
though for fome time they were mod vigoroufly oppofed by 
the enemy. Bomilcar, underftanding that his colleague was 
flain, confidered this as a favourable opportunity put into 
his hands by the gods of poflTefling himfelf of the fovereignty* 
to which he had long afpired. Though it was in his power 
to have bettered the fituation of afl^airs, yet being fenflble 
that he could not accomplifh the defign he had in view, if 
the army of Agathocles (houUl be deftroyed, but might ea- 
fily put it in execution if the enemy conquered, he refolved 
to retire with the forces under his command, not doubting 
but he (hould be able to fubdue Agathocles whenever he 
pleafed. Accordingly, acquainting his men with Hanno's 
death, he enjoined themtp keep their ranks, and retire to a 
neighbouiing hill, as tlie only means to efcape the fury of 
the viftorious enemy. As by the general's direction the re- 
treat was fo precipitate, that it appeared like a flight, the 
Africans in the rear imagined that the reft of the army were 
totally routed, and therefore immediately fell into diforder. 
This being obferved by Agathocles, he took advantage of 
their confufion, fo that he gained a complete vi£tory. The 
facred cohort, however, fought with great bravery, even 
after the death of Hanno, and courageoufly advanced over 
the dead bodies of their fellow-fpldiers^ till they foun4 

themi 



The Hiftory of the Cartha^nkm. 549 

thcixifclves abandoned by the whole army, and in danger of 
being furrounded by the enemy. Then, indeed, adverting 
to their own fafety, they retired in good order, gained an 
eminence, where they halted, and endeavoured to make 
head againft their purfuers ; but notbeingfupportedbvBo- Yr. of F!. 
milcar, they were either cut ofF, or forced to fave themfelvef **'^?,*. 
by flight. That general, after the defeat of his army, re- V|,g[ * 
tired to Carthage, not having been purfued far by Agatho-* ^ 

ties, who returned with great expedition to take pofleffion 
of the enemy's camp. This he allowed his foldiers toplun-^. 
der for their farther encouragement. Here, among other ' 

rich fpoils, they found many chariots of curious workman- 
(hip, that carried twenty thoufand pair of fetters and ma- 
nacles,, which the enemy had provided for the Sicilian pri- 
fonersy not doubting but they (hould fill all the dungeons 
in Carthage. Of the Sicilians, according to Diodorus, not 
above two hundred were flain, and about a thoufand Car- 
thaginians, or, as others aflTert, fix: thoufand. Juftin makes 
the lofs to be pretty equal on both fides ; for he tells us, 
that two thoufand Sicilians, and three thoufand Carthagi* 
nians, fell in this battle. As Bomilcar quitted the field ' 
without fighting, and Agathocles did not long con- 
tinue the purfuit, it is probable that the flaughter was not 
very confiderable, and that both fides fufFered nearly alike; 
efpecially fince the facred cohort behaved with fucn unpa-^ 
ralleled refolution. Juftin likewife differs from Diodorus 
in his account of the ftrength of the Carthaginian forces iti 
this adion. For whereas the former affirms their army to 
have been very numerous, the latter relates, that it confift- 
ed only of thirty thoufand men. Be that as it may, the 
Carthaginians lufTered a total defeat, wheh they thought 
thcmfelves in a manner certain of viftory. 

Though the Carthaginians had fuftained no very confi- ThiCar*- 
derable lofs in the late engagement, they were extremely tMagmiats 
difpiritcd, believing the gods fought againft them. They ^^^^^T 
could not imagine it poffible for Agathocles, after his whole ^^^^J^i^ 
army had been routed in Sicily, and he reduced, almoft to tiesi 
theneceffityof furrendering his metropolis, to* land in Africa, 
in fpite of a powerful fleet, with the ihalt^red remains of 
his broken troops, and afterwards defeat a numerous body 
of forces, without the inierpofition of fome fuperior being. • 
Under the influence of this perfuafion, they endeavoured 
to appeafe the oflFended deities, particularly Hercules and 
Saturn, whom they confidered as the tutelar gods of their 
country. From the foundation of their city, they had fent 
the tenth part of all their revenues annually to Tyre, as aa 
offering to Hercules, the patron and protestor both of Car- 
thage 



5<> 5^ H^ory of the Carthdgintans. 

lliage and her motker city. This cuftoKn £bt mtoy ages had 
been religioufly obferved \ but their revenues at laft grow* 
ing inimenfely large, they not only had omktcdto raife 
the tenths facred to Hercules, but even difcontinued their 
ancient acknowlegement to that deity. For this facrikgioui 
avarice they now imagined them (elves puniihed \ and there- 
fore, to expiate their guilt, they made a public confeffioa 
^ of their infincerity, and fent the golden (brines of their 

other deities to -Hercules at Tyre, believing, that foch fa* 
cred gifts would mbke a more ef&£):ual atonement. In an* 
cient times it was ufual to facriiice ^children of the moft 
noble families to Saturn., as ha« been above obferved ; but 
for fome years pad in thefe facrifices they had fubftituted 
children of mean extra<Slion, fecre.tly bought and maintain- 
ed for that purpofe;, in the roomo^ thofe nobly born. This 
they now confidered as a depart Ut'e from the religion of 
their forefathers^ and a remarkable failure of paying this 
(divinky the honours due to him, .and confequently were 
con^ious of having given him juft caufe of offence. T« 
expii^the guilt of fo horrid an impiety, a facrifice of two 
hundred crlnldren of .the firft rank was made. to the bleodf 
god^ and abip^ve three hundred other piarfons, fenfible of 
their dreadful negle^):^ voluntarily offi^red themfelves as 
vi£tim«, to pacify, by the effufion of their blood, the wrath 
of this deity; .*. Such were th^ ^e(nciments of the -Canhagi- 
nianft at tUs janiSar^, and fuch the method, they appre- 
hendedy would pfove the mod e£Fe<Sbiial in reconciling the 
offended deities. For they imagined the gods wer« the im«- 
mediate authors of the bad fuccefs that attended their arms. 
£ut k is probable, that foon after, upon the difcotery of 
Bomilcar's perfidious condu£t, they admitted at lead of the 
concurrence of an inferior caufe*. 
anttricail After thefe expiations, the Carthaginians thought proper 
UamiUar likewife^to make ufe of human means for their prefervatiofr. 
fromSi^ They, therefore, difpatched mefienger^ to Hamilcar ia 
^* Sicily, \vith advice of what had happened in Africa, and 

exprefs orders to come to the relief of his country. When 
the meflengers arrived, Hamilcar commanded them not to 
mention the viftoi:y of Ag^thocles; but, on the contrary, 
^o publifli amongft thertrbops, that he had been entirely de- 
feated, his forces cut off", and his fl^ct deftroyed, by the 
Carthaginians. This report threw every part of the city 
into the utmod confufion, the women mnning about the 
-ftreets in. a didrafked manner, and every houfe being filled 

s Polyb. p. 944. Q^Curt. lib. iv cap. %y j, Peicen. Felt* apud 
X Xa6iant. Divin. Inftit. u cap. ai^. Diod. Sic. ubi fupra, &c. 

with 



The Hifiory of the X^arihaglnians. 3I t 

with outcries and lamentationB. Some bemoaned lixt death 
of Agathocles and his fens ; others the lofs of their frienda^ 
who were fuppofed to be flain in Africa ; and great numbers 
their own hard fate^ in being driven, with their wives and 
children, into the hands of the enemy. However, £a* 
rymnon the ^tolian prevailed upon Antandrus not to con'- 
fent to a capitulation, but to ftand a general aiTault. Ha* 
milcar being informed of this refolution, prepared his baN 
tering'-engines, to play againft the walls, and made all the 
neceflary difpoGtions to ftorm the town. 

Whilit matters remained in this (itnation, a gaHey with ^j^^ ,.^^^ 
thirty oars arrived in the harbour of Syracufe, whofe rowers, thejiege of 
crowned with garlands^ and finging the lo Poean, made Syracufe^ 
direftly to the city. This veflel Agathocles built imme- ^"f'^l"^^^ 
diately after the battle ; and having manned it with fome Sfiryg 
of his befl: rowers, under the condudl of Nearchus, dif- tkoufand 
patched it to Syracufe, to carry the agreeable news of his menu 
latfe vidiory. The Carthaginian guard-fliips, difcovering ^fr^^^* 
it, gave chafe fo briikly, that it muft infallibly have .fallen 
into their hands, had not the Syracufans advanced feo its 
relief, when it was within a little diftance of the -fliore. 
Hamilpar, obferving that the garrifon flocked down to th^ 
port on this occafi'on, and believing that he fhould find the 
>valls unguarded, ordered his foldiers to apply fcallng*- 
ladders, and begin the intended aiTault. The Carthaginians 
having m6unted the ramparts without being difcovered^ 
had almoft pofTeiTed themfelves of a fpot lying betMreen two 
towers, when the patrol difcovered them. Upon this b 
warm difpute enfued ; but at lalt the Carthaginians were 
repulfed with confiderable lofs. Hamilcar, finding it lA 
vald to continue the fiege, after fuch joyful tidings had re^ 
ftored life and refolution to the Syracufans, withdrew his 
forces from before the place, and fent a detachmekit of five 
-thoufand men to reinforce the troops in Africa^. 

Agathbcles, after his vi£lory over the Carthaginians, Agathttlti 
finding no enemy to oppofe, reduced many forts and caflfas reduces 
in the ndghbourhood of Carthage. Many cities likewifc, ^f^ ^f^^ 
cither through fear, or averfion to the Carthaginians, joined ^JJ^7ii /A# 
him, by which means his army b^ng conCderably rein- proper ter» ' 
forced, he marched towards the nvaritime towns, having ritory of 
left a body of troops to defend his fortified camp at Tunes. Carthage* 
The firft place he attacked was the New City ; which Jm 
-carried fword in hand, but treated the inhabitants with 
*great humanity. He then advanced to Adrumetum, and 
-Uid fiege to it. The Carthaginians, recovering by degrees 

• ^ Diod Sic. ubi fupra, ^fc 

from 



55* y^^ Hifiofy of the Cartbagimani. 

from the confternation they were thrown into by the late 
defeat, and being informed of the progrefs Agathoc1e$ 
made, as alfo of his being fupported by Elyihas king of 
Libya, immediately raifed another army, and marched 
againft Tanes. After a vigorous refiftance, they made 
themfelves mailers of the enemy's camp, and by their re-* 
peated attacks fo prefled the town, that it was foon reduced 
to great extremity. Agathodes receiving intelligence of the 
enemy's fuccefs, left the greater part of his army to carry on 
the {lege of Adrumetum, and, with a fmallbody of troops, 
privately polled himfelf on the top of a mountain between 
Adrumetum and Tunes, from whence he could reconnoitre 
both his own camp and that of the Carthaginians. Here 
he ordered his foldiers to make large fires in the night, that 
the Carthaginians might think he was advancing at the head 
of a formidable army to the relief of Tunes ; and, on the 
other hand, the garrifon of Adrumetum might be induced 
to believe, that a ilrong reinforcement was marching to his 
camp. The ftratagem anfwered both thefe intentions. For 
the Carthaginians raifed the fiege of Tunes with fo much 
precipitation, that they left all their battering*engines be- 
hind; and the Adrumetines werefo intimidated, that they 
immediately capitulated. He afterwards took Thapfus by 
Aorm, and reduced above two hundred cities and towns, 
partly by force, and partly by con^pofition. Juftin intimates, 
that he put a great number of people to the fword in this ex- 
pedition; but as the contrary feems to appear from Diodo- 
rus;, we muft not predit this particular. Perhaps the author ex- 
tra£led this article from Timseus Siculus* who painted all the 
expeditions of Agathocles, and his whole life, in the blackeft 
colours. However, he fubdued the whole territory of Car- 
thage. But hearing that Elymas, king of Libya, in violation 
of the late treaty, had declared againfl him; he immediately 
entered Libya Superior, and in a pitched battle overthrew 
that prince, putting to the fword great part of his troops, 
and the general that commanded them. This defeat obliged 
the Libyan monarch to recall the body of auxiliaries he had 
fent to the afiiftanceof the Carthaginians, and enabled 
Agathocles to march againft that nation, who had formed 
the fiege of Tunes a fecond time. Advancing with great 
expedition, he encamped within two hundred ftadia of the 
enemy, and ordered that no fires (hould be made in the 
camp. This precaution prevented the Carthaginians from 
having any fufpicion of his approach. So that, advancing 
,all night with wonderful celerity, he arrived by break (u 
day in the neighbourhood of their camp. Here meeting 
with a body of their forces> that had been plundering the 

adjacent 



The tiifi^ory of the CarthaghtiaHik J5|- - 

ad[}acent country, he charged them with fuch fiiry, ttiit 
two tlioufand were killed upon the fpot, many taken pri- 
fonersy and the reft difperfcdt The Carthaginians, being^ 
extremely mortified at this difafter, and receiving advice^ 
thatElymas had been obligifd to recall his troopd, . without 
waiting for Agathocles, abandoned the fiege ^. 

It has been before obferved^ that Haniilcar fent otily a de- Hamitca^ 
tachmeht Of five thoufand men to the relief of his diftrefWd entirely di» 
country : keeping therefore the main bodv of his forces to- fu^^^ ^^ 
gether, he ftill entertained hopes of forcmg Agathocles to cufanu 
quit Africa, and return to the defence of his own domi- 
nionSi He fpent fomc time in making himfelf matter of the 
cities which had joined the Syfacufans ; and aftef having 
brought all their allfes under fubjeftion, returned to Syra- 
cafe, hoping to furprife the City, by attacking it in the night; 
The Syracufans were, before the approach of the Cartha- 
giniaa army, reduced to fome difficulties; for Hamilcar had 
not only cut off all fupplies of provifions by fea, but lilf j- 
wife deftroycd all the corn and fruits of the earth he could 
find in their territory, and had attempted to poflefs himfelf 
of the caftle of Olympia, or Olympieum, lying before thd 
town. HowTever, they were not difcouraged, but took all Vf. 6f Fl« 
the ncccffary meafures for a vigorous defence ; and f^^P^^- A T*chi* 
ing Hamilcar to have formed a defign of furprifing the citjr, 3^ 

they, by way of precaution, ordered a body of three thou- . 
fand foot and four hundred tiorfe to take pod in Euryalus, 
the citadel of Epipolse. About midnight Hamilcar ad- 
vanced, at the head of a ftrong party, to begin the attack, 
and was fuppdrtcd by Dinocrates, genefal of the horfe. Hig 
•army was divided into two bodies, one formed of the Car- 
thaginian forces, the other of the Greek mercenaries, which 
were followed by a confufed multitude, compofed of va* 
rious nations, who attended the army for the fake of plun-* 
der. The paifes being then rough and narrow, this un«» 
wicldy rabble for fome time found it impofllble to proceed} 
and therefore the Barbarians, of which it confifted, quar<> 
relling about the road) came at laft to blows, and nniverfal 
confufion enfued. The Syracufans polled at Euryalus, tak^ 
ing advantage of this incident, made a fally ; and after hav- 
ing terribly galled the Carthaginians with their darts and 
Arrows from the hill, attacked Hamilcar, who at firft re- 
ceived the enemy with great refolution, calling out to the 
officers to do their duty, and endeavour to animate theil^ 
troops tofuftain the (hock of the enemy : but the Syracufans 
having feized upon the pafles, and there not being room for ^ 

i Diod. Sic. ubi fupra* 
Voft,XV. A» «» 



354 ^^^ Hiflcry of the Carthaginians^ 

fo numerous aA army as Hamilcar's to a£b, great numbers 
of the Carthaginian foot were trod to death by their 'own 
horfe ; and the confufion they were at (irft thrown into be- 
ing increafed by the darknefs of the night, one part of their 
army engaged the other \ fo that the defeat became gene- 
ral, and the flaughter dreadfuh Hamilcar, being deferted 
by his army, which, before the engagement, amounted to 
a hundred and twenty thoufand foot and five thoufand horfe, 
was taken prifoner, and carried into Syracufe ^. 

The day after this defeat^ the Carthaginians rallied their 
(battered troops at^fome diftance from Syracufe; but having 
loft their general, they could not agree amongft themfelves 
about the choice of a fucceiTor. The exiles and Greek mer- 
cenaries chofe Dinocrates for their commander, and the 
Carthaginians vefted with thefupreme command of the na- 
tional troops the Carthaginian officer who was next in dig- 
T*# iferi- * nity to the late general. The Agrigentines, finding the 
geMimn Carthaginians and Syracufans had extremely weakened each 
r^/iMs ^^^^^ ^y ^^*^ bloody wari and that the latter were in great 
fromthg diftref^for want of provifions, judged this a favourable op- 
CarthagS' portunity of fei2ing upon the fovereignty of the whole ifland. 
pimtu mild They therefore levied a confiderable army for that purpofe, 
/ A?^** under the command of Xenodicus* one of their country- 
^ ' men. This army was foon reinforced by a confiderable 

body of troops from the city of Gela, which Xenodicus had 
found means to engage in the Agrigentine intereft. He 
firft furprifed Enna, and then marched to Herbefius, which 
was defended by a Carthaginian garrifon. Upon his ar- 
rival, he immediately caufed it to be attacked. For fome 
time the garrifon made a vigorous defence ; but at laft the 
inhabitants declaring in favour of the befiegers, the town, 
"^fter a warm difpute, was taken ^ on which occafion a great 
^number of Carthaginians were killed, and above five hun- 
dred taken prifoners. In fine, the Agrigentines profecuted 
this war with fuch fuccefs, that in a (hort time they wreflcd 
many places of confequence both from Agathocles and the 
Cartnaginians '. 
TA# Car' '^he Syracufans in the mean time being threatened with 
thagimiins a famine, and informed that fome veflels laden with com 
gain am ^^xt coming to the enemy, fitted out twenty gallies to in- 
^^^l^^ tercept them. As the Carthaginians had entertained no 
Syraeufani fufpicion of Tuch an attempt, the Syracufans found an op- 
iypa* portunity of flipping by them, and for fome time purfued 
their courfe in quelt of the tranfports : but the Carthagi- 

k Dtod. Stc. lib XX. cap. x. Juftin. lib. xxii. eap. 7. Tub init. & 
Oiof. lib. iv. cap. 6. ' Died. Sic. ubi fup» cap. a. 

niaos, 



ne Hi/iery efthe CarthagiHianu ♦ %^^ 

nianS) being appfifed of what had happened> purfued them 
with thirty gallies ; and corning up with thein off Hyblaj 
immediately attacked them% The oyracufans prepared for 
a warm engageinent ; but being foon driven on (hore^ thejT 
abandoned their (hips, and taking fheltef in the temple of 
JunOf endeavoured to defend themfelves againft the Car* 
thaginians. After a (harp difpute^ the latter, by means of , 
their grappling-irons, carried ten of them off; but the reft 
were drawn on fliore by the alTiftapncc of the garrifon of 
Hybia, who, .upon the nrft intelligence of the adlion, ad- 
vanced to the relief of the Syracufans **. 

Agathoclcs, having forced the Carthaginians to raife a 7*^^ Qw 
fecond time the fiege of Tunes, and reduced all the places thaginiant 
fubje£t to them, prepared to befieg^ Carthage itfelf ; and, &reathf dem 
for this purpofe advanced with his army to a poft within ^'P'ff^ 
five miles of that capital. On the other hand, the Cartha- oftheir^ 
ginians, notwithftanding the great loffes they had fuftained, armj* 
iri order to cover the city, encamped betwixt it and the 
enemy with a powerful army. This was the face of affairs, 
when Agathocles received advice of the defeat of the Car- 
thaginian forces before Syracufe, dnd the head of Hamilcar 
their general, who, being taken prifoner in the a£tion, had 
been murdered in Syracufe. Upon receiving fuch agreeable 
tiews, Agathocles rode up to the enemy's camp, and pro- 
ducing the head, gave them an account of the total deftruc- 
tion of their army in Sicily. This threw the whole army 
into the utmoft confternation, and filled every part of the 
camp with outcries and lamentations. The Barbarians, ac- 
cording to the cuftom of their country, proftrated them- 
felves before the head of their prince ; for Hamilcar, at the 
time of his^death, according to Diodorus, was one of the 
Carthaginian fuffetes. In fhort, they were fo deje£^ed at 
the publication of this melancholy account, that, in all pro- 
bability, Agathocles would foon have made himfelf mafter 
of Carthage, and put a glorious end to the war, had not an 
unexpefked incident happened, nearly fatal to the tyrant 
himfelf, and which gave the Carthaginians an opportunity 
of recovering themfelves ". 

Lycifcua, an officer of great bravery, being invited by Amutifyin 
Agathocles to fupper, and heated with wine, refle£led upon Agatho^ 
the tyrant's conduft in the moft opprobrious terms, utter- ^^'^'''*^** 
ing at the fame time the moft bitter imprecations. Aga- 
thocles, having a pcrfonal value for him, on account of his 
merit, turned all his infolence and fcurrility into a jeft ; but 

« 

A Diod. Sic. ubi fup. cap. s« » Idem. ibid. Vide 5( Cbrift* 

Hendr, in Cartbag. lib. ii. /e6^. i. p. i^S. 

A a a his 



556 f^e HiJIory of the Carthaginians. 

his Ton ArcTidgathuSy biglily refenting fuch infamous beha- 
viour, did not fail. to recriminate, and uxhis invedives not 
H few menaces were added. ' When the entertainment was 
over, and every one retired to his tent, Lycifcus charged 
^rchagathus with inceft, he being fufpe£ted of an illicit 
commerce with Alcia, his father's wife. This accufatioa 
incenfed Archagathus to fury and madnefs ; fo that he 
fnatched a lance out of the hands of one of the guards, and 
immediately piercing Lycifcus, laid him dead at his feet. 
The friends of the deceafed, and many other foldiers, en- 
raged at this aflaffination, filled the whole camp with tumult 
and confuGon. To thefe many officers, who were juftly 
obnoxious to the tyrant's difpleafure for various crimes, 
thinking this a fair opportunity of delivering themfelves 
from future apprehenfions of punifhment, joined in excit- 
ing the troops to revolt. The w)iole army was foon in mo- 
tion, and determined to take vengeance either of Archa- 
gathus, or Agathocles, if this lad refufed to deliver up his 
fon into their hands. The troops, therefore, elefting ncvr 
officers to command them, foon poffefled themfelves. of the 
livalts of Tunes, and furrounded'the tyrant and his fon, with 
their whole body of guards. *- The Carthaginians, apprifed 
of what had happened, difpatchcd meflengers to the Sici- 
lian forces, promifmg them larger pay, and ample rewards, 
if they would abandon the tyrant, and engage in their fer- 
vice. Agathocles, feeing himfelf iq the moft imminent 
danger, efpecially as many of his officers had already em- 
braced the enemy's propofal, and judging it better to fall 
by the bands of his own foldiers, than to be put to an ig- 
nominious death by a cruel and infulting enemy, divefied 
himfelf of his royal robes, and in the hahit of a poor pea- 
fant, appeared in the midft of his troops. This (Irange 
fight fo confourided them, that there was a deep filencc 
all over the camp ; which Agathocles taking advantage off 
made a fpeech fuitable to the occasion. He gave a detail of 
the moft memorable a£lions in which he had been con- 
cerned ; concluding, that he was determined never to for- 
feit his honour for (he fake of his life, and that therefore 
be was ready to end his days immediately, if his fellow- 
"^ foldiers deemed this expedient for the public good. Upon 

this he drew his fword, as though his intention was to have 
killed himfelf upon the fpot. But when he was upon the point 
of thrufling it into his body, the army cried out aloud to 
bim to forbear j and defiring him to refume his purple robe, 
and other enfigns of royalty, in a moment returned to4hcir 
duty; This event greatly difappointed the Carthaginian^, 
who Verc in expcftation of being joined by the moft con- 

fideraUe 



The Hiftory afthe Carthiginian% ^yi 

(iderable part, at lead of the tyrant's army, not dreaming 
of, what was really in agitation at that time in the Sicilian > 
camp^ Agathocles therefore furprifed a ftrong body of the 
enemy, who had poftcd themfelves near his troops, that 
they might be at Hand to join them on their revolt; and hav- 
ing put them to the rout, drove them back to their camp* 
with great flaughter. Thus Agathocles not only extricated 
himfejf put of a great <li£culty, in which bis fon^s im- 
prudence had involved him, but likewife defeated the ene- 
my, wKen they beheld bis (ituation as defperate. How- 
cjver, the ringleaders, of the mutiny, aod two hundred 
others, went over in a body to the Carthaginiai^s °. 

Neverthelefs, though the tyrant's affairs took fo happy a* wA/VA h^i 
turn at this critical jundure, when he feemed to be upon the. ^ ^^^<f^^ 
very bxink of deftruciion, yet the effefts of the late mutiny ^^y// 
were, in fome me^afure, fatal to him \ for it gave the Car- 
thaginians ^n opportuijity of recovering from the confter- 
nation, into which the deplorable nc.ws of the fatal ruin of 
their army in Sicily, and the death of their general, hacj 
thrown thetn. Could Agathocles have attacked the Car-^ 
thaginian forces immediately upon bis co.rn,rnunication ojf 
this advice to them, he would have eafily defeated themj^ 
^nd Carthage muft have fallen. But this unfortunate inci- 
dent gave them cime.to ftiake off their panic, and make fuel; 
preparations for their- defence, as, in concurrence witl^ 
other unforefeen events, baffled all the tyrant's future effort^ 
to reduce tliat city. In the mean tinae he. endeavoured to 
ftreagihen himfclf by alliances with the A Wean princes, to 
yrhora he fent ambafladors, inviting thera to join j.n thq 
common caufe, and affift him in overturning that imperious 
republic, which with fo much haughtinefs lorded it ovei: 
them- Th^fe remonftrances, together with the fame of hi$ 
yiclories, had fuch an effedi upon the Numldians, that im- 
mediately deiglaring in bis favour, they'renounced all alle- 
giance to the Carthaginians p. 

Next year the people of Carthage, nptwithftanding their ^ draiMi 
deplorable fituation, feht an army into Niimidia to reduce ^^^*J* ^* 
the revolters; which, in conjunction with the. Zuphons, a o^^hf^igl 
nation of that couprry, brought back many to their'duty. and the 
Agathocles being informed of their fuccefs, and fearing to Cartha^i^ 
lofe the benefit of fo feafgnable a diverfion, left his fon Ar- »^«»J» 
chagathus, with part of his forces, at Tunes ; and with the 
reft, conGfting of eight thoufand foot, and eight hundred 
horfe, all chofen men, together with fifty African carriages, \ ^ 

6>r greater expedition^ advanced to the relief of the Nu- 

* Plod' $ic. ubi fupra- p. Idem ibid* 

A a 3 midians^ 



358 7ie H0<ny of the Carthaginians* 

midians. The Carthaginians, receiving advice of his ap« 
' proach, encamped upon an eminence on the oppoiite bank 
of a deep, and feemingly impafiable river, in order to pre- 
vent a furprize } from whence they detached a body of Hght 
Numidian horfe, to obftru£l his march, and harafs him 
by continual alarms. To keep thefe at bay, Agathocles fent 
out parties of his flingers and archers, and with the main 
body of his army marched directly towards the enemy^ 
camp, where he found them drawn up ready to receive him. 
IJpon bis-firft attempting to paft the river, he was charged 
by a body of the Carthaginians with great fury, and loft a 
cpnfiderable number of men. But his troops, notwith- 
(landing the eallant refiftance they met with, at laft gained 
the oppofite Dank, where they furioufly attacked the ene* 
my* Moft of the Carthaginian troops were, after an ob« 
ftinate fight, defeated, and driven into their camp ; but a 
body of Greek auxiliaries, under the command of CHnon,, 
for a conflderable time fuftained the fliock of the whole Sy- 
racufan army, where they did great execution ; though at 
laft they were forced to retreat. Agathocles, not judging 
]t expedient to purfue fuch refolute foldiers, attacked the 
Carthaginian camp in two places at once ; but by reafon^of 
its being ftrongly fortified, was quickly repulfed. Never- 
thelefs, he continued his efforts to force it, depending great* 
ly upon his Numidian allies. But thefe, doting the beat of 
the engagement, kept themfelves neuter* having aq eye 
chiefly to the plunder of both camps. The adion happen-^ 
ing near that of the Carthaginians, they durft not move 
that way, and therefore advanced to the camp of Agatho- 
cles, which v^as at fome diftance, and defended only by a 
fmall guard. This they plundered, after having put to the 
{word, or taken prifoners all that defended it ; of which 
difafter Agathocles being apprifed, he flew thither, and re- 
covered part of the fpoil. The Cartbaginiansf in the mean 
time, not only preferved themfelves by this defe^ion of th« 
Numidians, but re-eftablifhed their affairs in Numidia upop 
the ancient footing *». 
jgatlkckt Though the tyrant had been hitherto the favourite of 
MiMs over fortune^ yet finding himfelf unable to carry on the war 
7>pAeifajt alone, he endeavoured to gain 0))hella8, one of Alexan- 
^h^c r • ^^^'* captains, then pofiefted of Cyreiiaica, over to his in-. 
9saiu,to bereft. With this view he fent Orthon, a Syracuf^n,, as am- 
tUi^terffii balTidor (o that prince. Ophelias had at this time a confi- 
derable army on foot, and was forming a proje£l to enlarge 
}ii$ dominipns. Agathocles therefore flattered bis ^xnbitioni 

% Pio4* Sic. ubi fvipr^. 



' f 



The Hijtory of the Carthaginians. 35JJ 

by promifing him the fovcreignty of Africa, if by his af- 
iiftance he ihould enable him to fubdue the Carthaginians. 
He fuggefted, that could he fubdue fo troublefome a rival, 
he fliould eafily reduce the whole iiland of Sicily, which 
would abundantly gratify his ambition \ that had he more 
extenCve views, Italy was near at hand, where he could . 
make farther conquens; that being feparated from Africa 
by a large fea, he bad no intention to fettle in that country ; 
and that his lafl: expedition did not proceed from a motive 
of choice, but neceifity. Ophelias was entirely won by 
thefe fuggeftions, and to fuccour his new ally the more e^ 
fe£lually, fent to Athens for a body of troops. As he had 
married Eurydice, the daughter of Miltiades, who com- 
manded the Greeks at the battle of Marathon, and was ^ 
made free of the city, he obtained his requeft, the Athe- 
nians not doubting but they ihould fhare with him and Aga- 
thocles all the wealth of the Carthaginians. The humble 
condition to which that people, as well as the other ftates 
of Greece, were then reduced by civil diiTenfions, and the 
immediate profpefl: they had of confiderable gain, made 
them exert themfelves on this occafion with the greater 
alacrity '. , 

Ophelias, having finiflied his military preparations, found ^'' of Fl* 
his army to confift of ten thoufand foot, and fix hundred /^^t*e^Chr 
horfe, all regular troops, befides a hundred chariots, and a ^q^. 
body of ten thoufand men, attended by tneir wives and 1 ■ n.. 
children, as though they had been going to plant a new co- andcuti - 
lony. At the head of thefe forces he continued his march ^'^ ^f ^ 
towards Agathocles for eighteen days, and then encamped '''^^^^^'3f« 
at Automolx (A), a city about three thoufand ftadia diftant 
from the capital of his dominions. From thence he advanced 
through the Regio Syrtica, but found himfclf reduced to 
fuch extremities, that his army was in danger of perifliing 
for want of water and provifions. Befides, they were great- 
ly annoyed by ferpents and wild beafts, with which that 
•defolate region was infefted. The ferpents made the greateft 
havock amongft the troops ; for being of the fame colour 
with the earth, and extremely venomous, many of the fol- 
diers trod' upon them, ai^d' were flung to death. At laftji 

7 Diod. Sic. ubi Aipra* Juftin. Orof. ubi fapra. 

(A) ThU city feems to be bo, at the bottom of the Greater 

the Automalax of Ptolemy, Syrtis, now called the Gulph 

which, according to that author, of Seedra, at a fmall diflanco 

was fortified, and undoubtedly from the Philaenorum arx, thQ. 

a frontier town of Cyrenaica. Carthaginian frontier^ 
* }t was fituatCi according to Stra-* 

A a 4 afte^ 



J 



|6e The Hfft^ of the Carthaginians^ 

^ter a verf fatiguing march of two oiontfas, be appftwhe4 
^gathoclesi and encamped at a fmall diftance from hirnj^ 
fo the great terror of the Carthaguuansf, who apprehended 
(he molt fatal t^nfequences horn this jun&ioiu Agatho* 
pies 4t firfl careSed hixtty and advifed him to uke all pofiir 
bie care of hisi troops, diat had undergone fb many far 
figue9;.but rnaking no fcrtipie to -commit the mpil enor* 
mous crimes, ip or-der to promote his own intereft, be re« 
folved upon his deftnidion. Obferving, therefore, that one 
day the greateft part'<>f Opbcllas's troops wece detached to 
forage, he thought a pro^r opportunity now offered of put? 
ting <hi^ deiign in eo^ecution. Accordingly he drew op his 
forces iq order qf battle, and acquainted them, that Ophet? 
las was guilty of the blackeft perfidy, fince, under the pre* 
text of affifling him a3 an ally, he had formed a fcheme to 
(ieliver him up to the enen^y. Incenfed at this accufatioii| 
the army attacked Ophelias ; who being at that jun<^ure too 
l^reak to oppofe them, was killed upan the fpot*; upon 
yfhich Ag^^i^ocles, by large promifes, prevailed Upon the 
(Cyreneans, now destitute ^f a leader, to ferve under him. 
Poly^nus relfites. this e?ent in a different manner from Dio- 
dorus ; for he aflerts, that Agathocles, being infonne4 
fhat Ophelias was addi&ed to an unnatural fpecics of laft| 
^ecoyed him by means of bis.fpn Hieraclides, who yet pr^ 
ierved hinifelf inviolate *, and put bath him and the g^eate^ 
nart pf his army to the fword ^ 
4gf^ffi^?' During thefe tranfa£lions a great revolution had like tf 
rt ^!l^L ,.- h^v^ happened at Carthage* Bomilcar, then poSefied of the 
^^Ppinedat hr(t employ qfient m the uate, thought this a fayourabte 
(f^rt^.iigf* jiw^fture to obtain the foirereignty of that city, to which he 
had long afpired. In order to facilitate the execmion of thu 
4efign, he \\^6 engaged all the moft eminent citizens^ from 
-whQn^ h^ apprehended any obftrud^iont to ferve in theNu- 
jnidtan expedition* At the head therefore offivehundM 
f>f hi$ aifociatcis, fupported by ^ body of ^ tboufand merce- 
naries, he advanced from Neapolis to Carthage, and enr 
-^ered thp'city without oppofition. He cut g& all theciti? 
j^ens he met wiihgut regard to fexor age ^ a maCacre whidi 
flruck th? whpie city with incredible terror, every one 
imagining that the town was betrayed to the enemy. Dir 
Yi4ing his forces into five bodies, he made five different at* 
^acks, carrying every thing before him, till at lajft his tr^p$ 
.^\\ joined ii^ th^ forum, ^o^ireyex, when it .was knowo 
^ha,t ^ii^ilc^r ^9t4.been the occa&mof tfaifr diilnil»aAce|an4 

' • Diod.'Sip. Juftin. U Orof. ubi ftrpra. Poly^n. Strat.' lib* v. cap. |. 
«x, 4. Viile & Thcophraft. dc Fiant. lib. iv. cap. 4. Plut. iuDcmetf 

m 



Jhe Hiftory of the Carthaginians. rfg 

bd befidet cauibd himfelf to be proclaimed king of Caf^ 
thage, the young men took up arms to repel the tyrant, and 
£rom the tops of the houfes difcharged vollies ot darts and 
ftones upon the heads of his foldiers. The traitor, 6nding 
fainxfelf unable to carry the cky, forced* bis way through the 
defiles, and ceticed to Neapolis'; but being clofely purfued 
by the Carthaginians, who by this time liad aflembleda fuf« 
ictent force, he retired with his troops to an eminence^ 
intending to make a vigorous defence. To fpare the blood 
of the citizens, a general amnedy was proclaimed to all who 
voold lay down their arms. The rebels fnrrendered upon 
ih\% proclamation, and all enjoyed the benefit of it except 
Bomilcar their chief *, but he, notwkhftancKng the general 
indemnity promi&d on oath, was- OHidemned to die, and 
fsUleoed to a crofs'isi the middle .of the forum, where he 
fufiered the moft exquifite torments, Fisom the crofs, as 
from the roftra, he harangued the people, reproaching them 
for their injuftice, their ingratitude, and perfidy, to many 
illuftriofus generals, whofe feryices they had rewarded with 
%n ignon^inious death. Having thus invqighed againft the 
authors of his punifbmeat, he expired, by his death deK<» " 
yering.^he Carthaginians from the moft dangerous dozfiefti^ 
enemy their fcate bad ever produced ^ 

Had Agathodes been informed of Bomilcar'S ambition, 
f>r of the diforder and confufion in the city of Carthage, he 
might eafily have reduced it ; for. if the latter could faavur 
been fapported by the former in the critical moment, he 
vould undoubtedly have joined him, in order to avoid fall- 
ing a vi£kim to the fury of his enraged fellow-^citizens. On 
the other hand, had the Carthaginians entertained any fuf* 
pidon of Ophellas-s impending clanger, by joining him, or 
9t le^ft (ending him a ftrong reinforcement, they migbtii 
Mritbottt much difficulty, have overthrown Agathoctes, aiS 
in fome meafoie appeared from thp future courfe of this 
mrar : but the generals on both fides being refolved on gra? 
tifying their x^wii ambition, which they at that time imagin«> 
ed ^incompatible with the public welfare, their armies were 
fiot intent upon obferving the motions of each other, and 
JDy this negle£l undelignedly contributed to their mutual 
prefervation. 

Agathocles, now finding himfelf at the head of a numer^r Af^athode^ 
pus artny, in imitation of Alexander's captaips, who took ^ff^^ei th^ 
upon them the dignity of crowned heads, afiumed the title ^^if'jf!^'''^ 
irf king of Africa^ intending foon to complete his conquefts andtaka 
f& that country by the xedufiion of Carthag^. however, utUa tf 

fiQtm. 
f Diod Sic. & Juftin. ubi fifpray 

for 



j6« ^^^ Hlftorj of the Carthaglmans. 

fertile prefenty his arms were otherwife employed agalnft 
the Uticans. Having received intelligence of their revoit| 
he advanced with fuo) expedition towards their city, that 
he furprifed three hundred of them in the adjacent fields, 
and made them all prifoners.'^ 1 hefe he {daced alive in a 
warlike engine, which he brought to the walls of the town« 
and expofed in fuch a manner to the darts and arrows of 
the befieged, that they could not repel his^fiaults without 
ileftroying their own citizens, among whom were fome of 
the firft nobility. . He then fummoned the garrifon to fur- 
render, imagining they would be induced to fubmiifion by 
the fight of their friends and relations. At firft they re- 
f ufed to defend themfclvcs, for fear of deftroying their 
countrymen ; but finding the enemy puthing on the fiege 
with incredible fury, and that without a vigorous refiftance 
they muft foon be conquered, they betook themfelves to 
mrms, and in feveral aflaults bravely repuHed the affail- 
ants. At laft Agathocles made a general afTault upon the 
weakeft part of the wall, and carried it : nevertheiefs the 
Uticans for fome time kept their pofts ; but the tyrant's 
whole army rufhing into the town, and fix>n driving them 
partly into the temples and partly into their own houfes, 
they were all either put to the fword or taken prifoners. * 
A Vhrwifi ' ^^^ tyrant, having hanged all the prifoners, plundered 
Hipp9 Di* ^^c town, and left a fufficient garrifon in it, marched with 
so-rtytMs, his army to Hippouacra, or Hippo Diarrhytus, the Bizerta 
oS the moderns, a place naturally fortified by the lake upon 
which it flood. Before he could reduce this city he was 
obliged to engage the inhabitants upon the water with his 
gallies I but having defeated them on that element, and 
followed his attacks clofely for fome days, he at laft took it 
by ftorm* Mod of the people bordering on the fea-coafts, 
and even thofe inhabiting the inland part of the country, 
terrified at his fuccefs, fubmitted to his command. He 
found himfelf not able to fubdue the Numidians ; however, 
many of their hords or cantons concluded a treaty of peace 
with him ". 
Xenodoehus ^^ ^^^ mean time Xenodochus» general of the Agrigcn^ 
4ffeaudhy tines, having reftored many of the cities in Sicily to the full 
Demophi' enjoyment of their rights and privileges, the fubjeds botli 
iusanJ of the Carthaginians and Syracufahs» entertained hopes of 
htptma. ^ revolution throughout the ifland in favour of liberty. 
Animated by thefe hopes great numbers of them took up 
arms, and entered into an afibciation, in ordtr to extirpate 
tyranny. Agathocles receiving advice of this commotioa 

« Died. Sic. ubi fupra« . 

Um 



^e Htftory of the Carthaginians. 



3^i 



from Demophilus and Leptines, the commanders of his 
troops in Sicily, was greatly ahrmed, and therefore re- 
folved to return home, which he thought he mighc fafcly * 
do for a time, as his affairs on the continent were in a very 
flouriihing condition. Having therefore built fome open jgathocUs 
veflels, with fifty oars a-piece, and put two thoufand men on nturms i« 
board, he failed for Sicily, leaving hisfon Archagathusga- ^'«*^« 
T^mor of the cdnquefts ia Africa, and commander in chief 
oT the forces. Upon his arrival at Selinus he found that 
Demophilus and Leptines had not bnly affembled a power- ^ 

ful army, but likewife defeated Xenodochus in a pitched 
battle^ with the lofs of fifteen hundred men. After this 
viflory Agathocles advanced toTherma, a city pofiefled by 
a Carthaginian garrifon, which immediately fubmitted. Ce< 
^ phaloedium, Heraclea, and other places that had regained 
their liberty, he likewife reduced ; but could not make him-, 
felf mailer of the principal cities belonging to the Cartba« 
ginians ^. 

ArchagathuSr after his father's departure, greatly esBtend- Arckaga^ 
«d the conquefts in Africa. He fent Eumachtis, at the head ^^ismutt 
of a large detachment, to invade fome of the neighbouring y'^"S^*^ 
provinces, whilft himfelf, with the grofs of his army* watch- Africa. 
ed the motions of the Carthaginians. Eumach us falling 
into Numidia, firft took the great city of Tocas, and can-^ 
quered feveral of the Numidian cantons that would not en- 
ter into an alliance with Agathocles. Afterwards he laid 
fiege to Phellina, and carried it ; a conqui^ft which waa- at- 
tended with the fubmiflion of the Afphodelodians, a nation, 
according to Diodorus, as black as the Ethiopians* From 
hence he marched to Mafchala, a city of great importancie, 
founded by the Greeks in their return from Troy, and in-, 
habited by their pofterity for feveral fucceeding ages, which 
opened its gates at his approach. Then he moved to Hip- 
pouacra^ which, fince its furrender to Agathocles, had re- 
volted to the enemy, and made himfelf mafter of it. Laftly, 
h? polfcflcd himfelf of Acris (E), 2, free city of great opu- 

vDiod. Sic. k Juft. ubi.fupra, cap.'S^. 



tm 



(E) Neither the city of To- 
?as nor thofc of Phellina, Mqf- 
?hala, Acris, nor yet the nation 
of the Afphodelodians, though, 
according to our author, a very 
rpmarkable people, have been 
mentioned by Cellar us, whofe 
work is yet held in the high- 
eft repute. They all fcem 
|o hav^ had th^ir fityatian ia 



that part of Numidia contiguous 
fo Africa Propria, and not far 
from Hippo Diarrhytus, It is 
probable thofe auxiliary troops 
taken prifoners by-Gclon in his 
engagement with the Carthagi^ 
hiahs, which Frontinus calls 
Nigerrimi, were of this nation, 
the Melanogsetuli, and even of 
thie Ni^rit^ themfelvcs. 

kncCi 



3«4 



EnmachMS 

into the 
more re* . 
mott parti 
efAfricet. 



Whe^fpofi" 
tions of At' 
ehagathuSf 
0Hd the 
CartAagi- 



The Hifiory (^ the Cafthagmant. 

lenee, which he gave up to the foldiers for plunder, and- 
fold the inhabitants for flaves ; after which fuccefles he re- 
turned to the camp, load^a with the imroeafe booty he had 
acquired '^ 

Elated with his good fortunci Emachus refolved to pene* 
trate into the more remote parts of Africa on.the fide o£ Nu- 
midia. With this view» continuing his inarchi he arrived 
at Miltine, and forced his way into the city : but notwith- 
ftanding this firft- inftance qf fucccfsi the Barbarians^ im- 
mediately coUe£ling their whole force, attacked him with 
fiich fury, that they obliged him to retreat from the town 
in great confufion. after he had loft a great number of men. 
From hence he advanced to a high mountain, two hundred 
ftadia^over, which, having pafied with gfcat difEculty, he 
came to three citiesi called in the Greek lang^age Fitlieco- 
fie, from the apes (F), with which all the adjacent country 
abounded. One of thefe he took by s^{r.iult, and levelled it 
with the ground; a<ircumftance which fo terrified thepther 
two, that they immediately furrendcred : but receiving in^ 
telligence, that all the neighbouring nati(^st were marching, 
in a formidable body to give him battle, he abai^doned his 
conqueft , and retreated with precipitation towards the Cea« 
coafts y. 

Hitherto Archagathiis had been e^trei^elyfortufiate^ but 
this laft unhappy expedition of Eum^chus occafioned a vefy 
conCderable alteration in the face of htf affairs. .The Car-; 
tfaaginians, being informed pf that generaPs ill fuccef{^^ took 
courage, and refolved to eicert tbemfelves to retrieve their 
former lofles. They divided their forces into thiiee bodies: 
one of thefe they fent to the fea-coafts? to keep the towns 
in awe ; another they difpatched into the mediterraneaii 

< IHod. Sic. cap. 3. Juftin. lib. xxii. y Died. Sic. ubi fupra. 



(F) Diodorus tells us, that 
the iphabitantsef this tra6t had 
cudoms far different from thefe 
of the Greeks | as alfo, that 
the apes were very familiar with 
ihen, had admiraoi) into their 
hoines, and received divine ho-r 
nours, in the fame manner ^s 
dogs did from the Egyptians, 
He adds, that when thefe crea- 
tures were hungry, they took 
meatoyt of the cellars, but« 
(fries, 4(c$ without any difiur- 



bance; thsit parents named their 
children afler them, as the 
Greeks did after the gods ; ai^d 
whoever killed one of thera, was 
fure to fuffer death, .as a noto^ 
rious atheiil. Hence it came to 
afs, that when any peiJba be* 
ved himfelf amongfl them 
with unufual haughtinefs and 
infolence, it was a proverbial 
expredion, *< Thou j^aft drunk 
th^ hloQd of an aye ( i )»'* 



C 



(1} Qiod^r^ Kcttt ttht fapr^ 



]>aits» 



The tlifiory oftht CartbagimaXi. 3^5 

|larts, to preferve the inhabitants in their allegiance; anil* 
the laft body they detached to the Upper Africa^ to fupport' 
their confederates in that country. They had other motives 
likewife for this conduft. By fending fuch a number of 
men otit of the city, they fappofed they (houId| in fomc 
meafure, reftore plenty to the citizens, who began to be in ' 
want of provifions The city was fo ftrongly fortified, and 
lay fo near the fea, that it Was in no danger of being taken 
by force ; and therefore all fuperfluous hands were an in- 
cumbrance. By fending a powerful army to the relief of 
their allie8,th'ey believed they (houldnot only confirm them 
ih their fidelity, and prevent their joining the enemy, but' 
likewife encourage the neutral princes to declare in their 
favour. And laltly, they bad reafon to imagine, that by 
fuch a diverfion, they fhould draw the enemas forces at a 
greater diftance from the city, and confequently obtain for 
themfelves a little time to breathe. They were not deceived 
in their views ; for upon the departure of thirty thoufand 
foldiers from the city, provifions returned to their former 
price; their confederates abandoned the fide which, through 
compulfion, they had been obliged to take ; and the enemy 
were forced to withdraw their troops from the heighbour-i 
hodd of Carthag6. Archagathus, being apprifed of the mo^- 
tions of the Carthaginians, divided his forces likewife into 
three bodies. One of thefe he fent to obferve the Gartha* 
ginian troops on the fea-coaft, with orders afterwards to ad- 
vance into the tJpper Africa ; another, under the command 
of ^fchrion, one of his generals, he polled at a proper 
diftance in the heart of the country, to have an eye both 
upon the enemy, and the barbarous nations ; and with the 
laft, which he led in (U^rfon, he kept clofe to Carthage, pre-« 
lerving a communication with the other two, in order to 
fuccour or recajl them, as the exigency of affairs (hould re- 
quire. Things being in this fituation,' Archagathus re- 
mained quiet in his camp, pleafed with the difpofitions he 
had made, and patiently waiting the confequences of the 
fteps he had taken *- 

The Carthaginian troops detached into the heart of the TAe Syrm* 
country were commanded by Hanno, ^ general of great er* «/<»»' ^^f- 
perience, who, being informed of -ZEfchrion's approach, laid ^lq^\ 
an ambufcade for him, into which being drawn, he was cut thaginiuut. 
off himfelf, with four thoufand foot, and two hundred horfe. 
The reft were either taken prifoners, or fled to Archaga- 
thus, who lay encamped about five hundred ftadia from the 
place where this a£tion happened. Himilco, who command^ 

* Piodor. Siculi ubi fupnu 



l» 



3^6 ThiHifiery of the Cartha^nidnu 

ed f he Carthaginian forces in the Upper Africa, having ad-. 
▼ice of Eumachus's march, immediately put himfelf in mc^ 
tion,and at lad took poft in a town near that general's camp, 
with a refolution to engage him. The Greeks, though 
much incommoded by the fpoils which they carried with 
them, drew up their army in order of battle, and prepared 
to attack the enemy. Himilco left part of his army in tbe 
town, with orders to fally out upon the Greeks as foon as 
they (hould fee them eager and difordered in the purfuit. 
Then advancing at the head of his other forces, he attacked 
them with great fury ; but foon after his men being feized 
with a panic, fled in the utmoft confternation. Eumachus, 
elated with this fuppofed advantage, purfued them with 
fuch eagemefs, that his troops fell into diforder ; which be* 
ing obferved by the forces in the place, they rufiied out upon 
rhem, and at the fame time the other body facing about, the 
Greeks were fo intimidated, that they endeavoured to retire 
to their camp : but finding their retreat cut off* by the body 
that fallied from the town, they fled to a neighbouring emi- 
nence. There being furrounded by the Carthaginians, and 
in great want of water, they were almod totally deftroyed : 
for of eight thoufand foot only thirty, and of eight hundred 
borfe only forty, had the good fortune to efcape, the reft 
either perifhing of third, or being put to the fword *. 
J^atkocUif Archagathus, receiving the melancholy advice of thefe 
upom r#- two defeats, and being rejoined by the remains of ^fchrion's 
'hMi'mfws' ^^^Y* ordered his detachments to return with all fpeed to 
U0va Si' ^he camp. This was a very neceflary precaution; for, after 
r/Vyi the defeat of Eumachus, Himilco advanced with great ex- 

pedition towards Archagathus, blocking up the pafles, and 
iecuring the country, as he advanced, from the enem/sin- 
curflons ; fo that, bad notlhe detachments retired in time, 

Eurfuant to the order received, they mud undoubtedly have 
eer^ cut to pieces. Himilco, therefore, preventing all com- 
munication betwixt the Syracufan army and the fruitful 
CQuntiy of Africa, on one Hde ; and Atarbas, another Car- 
thaginian commander, who lay encamped within forty fta- 
dia of Tunes, depriving them of fupplies by fea, on the 
other ; the Greeks ia a fhort time were reduced to the laft 
extremity for want of provifions. Many of their confe- 
derates, druck with terror at fb difmal a profpeft, defcrt- 
ed them, and joined the enemy, who now enclofed them 
on all fides, and feemed ready to fwallow them up every 
moment. Whild things remained in this melancholy fita- 
ation, Agathocles received an e^prefs from Archagathus, 

> Diodor. Sicul. ubi fupra. 

acquainting 



The Hijlory of the Carthaginians* 367 

licquaintlng him with the great lofles be had fuftained, ^md 
the extreme fcarcity of proviGons the troops laboured under* 
Upon which intelligence AgatbocleSi leaving the manage- 
ment of the war in Sicily to Leptines, by a ftratagem got 
eighteen fail of Etrufcan ihips, that came to his affiftance, 
out of the harbour of Syracufe ; and then engaging the Car- 
thaginian fquadron lying ofFthat harbour, took five of their 
{hips, and made all the men in them prifoners. By this, ac- 
tion he became mafter of the port, and fecured the paiTage. , 
into it for the merchants of all nations ; a circupiftance 
which foon produced plenty of all things in Syracufe, where 
famine before began to make great havock. Supplying him- 
felf therefore with a fuflScient quantity of neceflaries for the 
voyage he was going to undertake, he immediately took his 
departure from Syracufe, and failed for Africa **. 

Upon his arrival in that continent, he renewed his forces, 
and found them to confift of fix thoufand Greeks, as many 
Celtes, Samnites, and Etrufcans, befides ten thoufand Afri- 
cans, who had perfevered in their, fidelity to him, and fif- 
teen hundred horfe. As he found his troops reduced almoft afid, upon 
to a (late of defpair, and confequently prepared for any at- ^" orri*val 
tempt, he thought this a proper juncture to offer the enemy '^'^'^'a^* 
jbattle. The Carthaginians, though they had the advan-. f^J^y 
tage of numbers, and were encamped upoi^« an eminence battU, 
that was almoft inacceflible, declined the challenge, not be- 
ing willin;g to rifk the fate of a battle with men who wer^ 
grown defperate. However, they believed, that by remain- 
ing in their camp, where they had plenty of provifions, and 
protrafling the time, they could ilarv^ the enemy to a fur- ! 

render */ 

Agathocles, perceiving the enemy's defign, and finding he He attacks 
coi^ld not long continue in that camp, refolved at all events theCanka^ 
to force them to a battle. Advancing therefore at the head 5'«'''» 
of his forces to their camp, he attacked it with fuch impe- ff^,>^// 
tuofity, that he made a confiderable impreflion upon it, and defeated, 
might poffibly have carried it, had not his mercenaries bafely 
deferted him upon th^ firft onfet. The Carthaginians, as 
much animated by this cowardice as the Greeks were dif» 
mayed, redoubling their eflx)rts, foon forced the tyrant to re- 
treat with precipitation to his camp, whither they purfued 
him, doing great execution in the purfuit. The Cartha- 
ginians fparcd the Africans in this a£tion, in order to win 
the afFeftions of that people \ but bearing an implacable 
hatred to' the Greeks, befides the prifoners they took, they ^ 
put above three thoufand to the fword ^» 

b Diod. Sic. ubi fupra. ^ Juftin. lib. xxit« cap, S« « 4 Diodor. 
Sicul. ubi iupra« , 

Next 



j68 5*^^ ir^ory of the Carthaginians. 

ASfrnfft Next night the Carthaginians facrificed all the prifcmcf^ 
kappins m of cftftinAion, as a gratefal acknowlegement to the gods fof 
tkt Cat' the viftorv they hacf obtained. Whiift they were in the 
/A^uriM midft of this folemnity, the wind, fuddenly rifing, carried 
*""'^ * the flames to the facred tabernacle, near the altar, which 
they entirely confumed, as well as the general's tent, and' 
thofe of the principal officers, lliis accident occafioncd a 
dreadful alarm throughout the whole camp, which was en- 
creafed by the great progrefs the fire made : for the tents 
confifting of combuftible materials, and the wind blowing 
in a moft violent manner, the whole camp was almoft en- 
tirely laid in aihes i and many of the foldiers, endeavour- 
ing to carry off their arms, and the baggage of their officers, 
periihed in the flames. Many of thofe who efaped met with 
as unhappy a fate : for after Agathocles had received the' 
4 hft fliock, the Africans dcfertcd him, and were at that very 
inftant coming over in a body to the Carthaginians, virho 
took them to be the whole Syracufan army advancing in or- 
der of battle to attack their camp ; which being foon ru- 
moured throughout the Carthaginian army, a dreadful con- 
fufion enfued. Some betook themfelves to "flight ; others 
fell down in heaps one upon another, imagining the enemy 
was at that inftant approaching ; and laftly, others engaged 
their comrades, miftaking them for the enemy. Five thou- 
fand>men loft their lives in this no£kurnal encounter, and 
the reft took (belter within the walls of Carthage. Kor could 
' the appearance of the day itfelf, for fome time, difllpate 

th^ir apprchenfions. 

mulaif At the fame time a (imilar accident happened in the 

0iAir in Greek camp. The African deferters, obferving the great 

^^y, confufion of the Carthaginians, and not underftanding the 

^^ '* meaning of it, were fo terrified, that they returned to theit 

camp.' The Syracufans, feeing a body of troops advancing 

towards them in good order, immediately concluded, that 

the enemy were marching to attack them, and therefore iii 

an inftant cried out, ** To arms 1" The flames afcending out 

of the Carthaginian camp into the air, and the lamentable 

-.outcries proceeding from thence, confirmed them in this 

opinion, and greatly contributed towards heightening their 

confufion. llie confequence of this panic was much the 

fame with that already defcribed ; for engaging each othef, 

inftead of the enemy, they fcarce recovered their fenfes 

upon the return of the light. This int^iftine fray was fo 

bloody, that it coft Agathocles four thoufand men. 

whgfiw The laft difafter,. though of no advantage to the cnemy^ 

^l!'^jt/^ who had themfelves fuffered more than, the Syracufans on 

^ns jrt' ^^ jjj^^ occafion, entirely difpiritcd Agathocles. His mind 

being 



The Hi/hy (fthe Carthaginians^ ' jSj 

being fiUed with melaTOho]7 refle£lioa$, he confidered him- 
felf scs defertcd by the Africans ; as not having a fufficient 
number of troops to contend with the Carthaginians ; and^ 
laftly, in danger of being aiTailinated by his own fon, anci 
therefore refolved to quit Africa. As he knew the Cartha'* 
ginians were mafters at fea^, and was perfuaded they would 
never make peace with him upon any terms confident with 
his fafety» he concluded^ it would be impoflible for him to 
retreat, in the face of the enemy* and therefore employed 
all his. invention to find out fome method of flealing away 
privately ; a retreat which he accordingly effected, as we 
have related in the hiftory of Syracufe. 

After the departure of Agathocles, his two fons fell a fa- Agafko' 
orifice to the wild fury of the foldiers, who immediately '^iff^'ttroopt 
aflaflinated them; and choofing leaders from ampngft them- ^^/■fjj," 
felves, concluded a peace with the Carthaginians upon the andcot^ 
following terms; firft| that the Greeks &ould furrender dude a 
the places they held in Africa, on receiving three hundred P'^^' wi/A 
talents ; fecondly, that thofe who were willing to ferve ^^* ^^f" 
under the Carthaginians, fhould be kindly treated, and re- ^^^ ' 
ceivQ the ufual pay , and, thirdly, that the reft fliould be 
tranfported to Sicily, and have the city of Selinus for their 
habitation. Thefc articles were agreed to, and pun£^ually 
obfierved, by the Carthaginians ; in confequence of which^ 
all the troops that adhered to the treaty they had conclud- 
ed, met with a kind reception;^ hut the cities which, in 
hopes of relief from Agathocles, refufed to fubmit, were 
reduced by force of arms,, their governors crucified, and 
the garrifons obliged to cultivate thofe parts of the country 
they bad before ravaged and deflroyed. Thus this war, aftex" 
various turns and revolutions, ended to the advantage of 
the Carthaginians; who, by the laft treaty, fettled their 
affairs upon the ancient footing, notwithflanding the great 
lofles they had fuilained, and notwithflanding the Syracufan 
army had brought them to the very brink of deftra£):ioA^ 

Notwithflanding the peace concluded betwixt the Syra- fT'^icA h 
cuian troops in Africa and the Carthaginians, the treaty ratified bj 
was not ratified by Agathoclcs till the following year.: that ^S^^'^^*'^* 
prince, being reduced to great didrefs by Dinocrates, who 
'afpired at the fovereignty of Syracufe, found it necefTary to 
court the friendfhip of .the Carthaginians. The emergency 
of his affairs obliged him to purchafe a peace at a very dear 
rate ; for he not only ratified the former treaty, but confent^^ 
ed to have an additional article inferted in it much to the 
advantage. of the Carthaginians, importing, that all the 

e Diod. Sic. lib. xx. cap> j. Juft< lib. auii. cap« 8* fub. fin. 

YoL- XV. B b cities 



570 The Hifioty of the Carthaginians. 

cities they formerly poiTeffcd in Sicily fliould be rcftorcd to 
them. Which being immediately executed, the Carthagi- 
nians left him at liberty to purfue his defigns in Sicily. And, 
to facilitate their accomplilhment, they fent him three hun- 
dred, or, as Timseus Siculus maintains, an hundred and 
fifty, talents of gold, beiides two hundred thoufand me- 
dimni, or five hundred thoufand bufhels, of wheat ^ 
Af^athoclis After this pacification, Sicily, according to Diodorus, for 
meditates a confiderable time, enjoyed the fweets of peace : but at 
another ^^^ ^^ implacable hatred Agathocles bore the Carthagi- 
Carthage • nians induced him to make preparations fer a new war with 
that nation. As the Carthaginians had made thcmfehes 
mafters of the fea, they were abundantly fupplied with all 
the neceflaries and elegancies of life, and eafily fecured their 
country from foreign invafion. Agathocl^s therefore fitted 
out a fquadron of two hundred gallies, in order to prevent 
the exportation of corn and other provifions from Sicily and 
Sardinia to Africa, and afterwards totranfport a large body 
of forces into that country, to attempt the conqueft of it a 
fecond time. But this, as well as the other projefts he 
and dies, had formed, were fruftrated by his death, an account of 

which we have already given in the hiftory of Syracufe «. 
Yr. of Fl. After the death of Agathocles, Maenon, who had poifon- 
*®59- ed him, ufurped the fupreme authority at Syracufe, by 
"»So. ' 8^^"*"S o^^^ ^^ array to his intereft. The Syraeufans, 
^ however, refolved to ftruggle for their liberty, and there- 

^heSyra- fore raifed another army, giving the command of it to Ice- 
tvfans call tas, with orders to attack Maenon. In the mean time Ma> 
^^^^^fv ' '^^"^ finding himfelf not ftrong enoagh to engage Icetas> 
r^ to their ^n^^ft^oufly avoided fighting, and applied to the Carthagi- 
(■0aMCi* nians for afliftance. That people, always intent upon fo- 
- menting divifions in Sicily, in order to enlarge their own 
acquifitions, readily granted his requeft. Soon after, Icetas 
feized upon the government at Syracufe, and ruled with an 
abfolute authority, though he decKrfed the title of king, 
contenting himfelf with that of pr«tor. In the mean time 
the rebels and Syracufati exiles, in conjunftion with the 
Agrigentines, who, in the ninth year of his cominand, re- 
volted, advanced, under the conduft of Phintias, to Hybla, 
where they weie attacked and defeated by Icetas. That 
general, elated by this viftory, engaged the Carthaginian 
army upon the banks of the river Teria ; but was over- 
thrown wjth prodigious flaughter, and forced to fly to Sy- 
racufe. In Icetas's abfence, Thynion had poflefiTed himfelf 

f.Diod. Sic* ubi fup. cap. 4. g Idem, lib. xxi. in Excerpts 

Khodooiani. ;£liaa. VaT. Hiit. lib. ii* Orof. lib. vii* cap. 6. 



The Hiftory of the Carthagihianil 37 1 

of the fovcreign power ; but being oppofed by Softi'atu^y 
vrho had the fame aim, a civil war broke out within the 
walls of the city. Thynion maintained himfelf in the ifland 
with a body of ten thoufand men, and bis rival held the 
other quarters of the city with the like number of forces $ 
fo that for fome time Syracufe was nothing elfe but a fcene 
of blood and llaughter. The Carthaginians, taking advan- 
tage of thefe divifions, reduced moft of the cities fubje£t to 
Syracufe, and invefted the capital itfelf with a fleet of an 
hundred fail, and an army of fifty thoufand men. Thyhion 
and Soilratus, finding the Carthaginians pufhing on the 
fiege with fuch vigour, that, in all probability, they would 
foon become matters of the city, unlefs fpeedily relieved, 
united their forces againll the common enemy. They alfo 
dif patched mefiengers to Pyrrhus, then at Tarentum, in-^ 
treating him to come over to Sicily, and deliver the Greeks 
in that ifland from the Barbarians, who threatened them » 

with utter deftruftion. That prince received the envoys 
very favourably, ;ind, fending Cyneas (G) to- conclude a 
treaty with Thynion and Softratus, after having left a ftrong 
garrifon in Tarentum, under the condu£b of Milo, embark- 
ed with his army for Sicily. He took with him a confider- 
able number of elephants, and a vaft quantity of provifions; 
and, the tenth day after he had departed from Tarentum, 
arrived at Locri. From hence (leering Ais courfe for Italy, 
he in a few days landed at Taurominium, and, upon his 
arrival, was joined by Tyndarion, tyrant of that city. With 
this reinforcement he advanced to Catana, and from thence 
marched to Syracufe, at the head^f thirty thpufand footf 
and two thoufand five hundred horfe, befides the Sicilian 
auxiliaries, attended by a fleet of two hundred fail. The 
Carthaginians, then carrying on the fiege of Syracufe, hav- 
ing detached thirty of their bed veflTels for a frefli fupply of 
provifions, did not think thenifelves ftrong enough to ven- 
ture an engagement with Pyrrhus's fleet, and therefore 
judged it not proper to wait his approach ; fo that he enter- 
ed Syracufe without oppofition. Soon after he had poflefl^ 
ed himfelf of that important place, ambaflTadors arrived 
from the Leontines, who had joined with Thynion and 
Softratus in prefling the king of Epirus to take upon him the 
defence of their refpeftive ftates, ofi^ering to furrender their 
titf into his hands, and to join his forces with a body of 

(G) Cyneas was a famous himfelf as more obliged to Cy- 

orator, and a hearer of De« neas^s eloquence for many of 

mofthenes. According to Flu- his conqueils, than to the force 

tarch, Pyrrhus looked upon of his arms. 

B b 2 four 



37^ 



Tbi Hifiwy of the Carthaginians. 



Thi Car' 
thaginians 
9fftr thi 
Romans 
\ancip 



four thoufand foot, and five honclred horfe. Many oAer 
cities followed the example of Syraaufe and Leontini. In 
{hort^ Pyrrhus, partly by the terror of his name, and party 
by his infinaating and affable behaviour, made fuch an iffl- 
preflion upon the minds of the Stcilians in general, that he 
doubted not of fopn having them all entirely »t hie devo- 
tion, and Gonfequently flattered himfelf with the hopes of 
fpeedily depriving the Carthaginians of ail thieiracquifitioM 
in Sicily **. 

We mud not omit obferving, that before Pyrrhms landed 
in Italy, the Romans were not unacquainted with the dc- 
figns of that ambitious prince. ' In order therefore to 
ftrengthcn themfelves againft any attempts he might make, 
they renewed their treaties with the Carthaginians, who, 
on their fide, likewife were under fome apprehenfions of 
his invading Sicily. To the articles of the preceding trea- 
ties one was added,- which contained an engagemenC 
of mutual afliftance, m cafe either x>f the contrading 
powers fhould.be attacked by Pyrrhus* As it was prudent- 
ly fpecified, that the Carthaginians ibould fend a fufficient 
naval force to the relief of the Romans, upon the firft 
notice of a rupture with the king of Eptrus, as foon as 
they heard he had made a defcent in Italy, they ordered a 
fleet of an hundred and twenty fail, to be equipped for 
that pui*pofe, under the command of MagOi That dfeer, 
in an audience he had of the fenate, upon bis arrival at 
Rome, told the confcript fathers, that his principals hai 
heard with great concern of the hoftilities Pyrrhus commit- 
ted in Italy. He likewife offered, in the name of his rc- 
wkkh thi public, a body of auxiliary troops, to enable them to repel 
Romans di- this foreign invader. The fenate returned thanks for this 
elineac- obliging ofl^tr of the Carthaginians; but at the fame time 
ctptwg of, jg^,j,ngji accepting it. Diodorus relates, that, neverthclcfs> 
the Carthaginian fleet, having a body of land-forces on 
board, failed to Rhegium ; which place they battered fof 
fome time with incredible fury, but were at laft obliged to 
rarife the fiege. They deftroyed, according to this author, 
a vad quantity of timber, and other materials for (hipping$ 
^Thiy after- in that port, and then put to fea with their fquadron, to 
ixtardsoffer obferve the motions of Pyrrhus. Mago, fome daysaftcrhrt 
thiir mt' departure from Rome, repaired to Pyrrhos^s campj onder 
pretence of offering the mediation of Carthage for accom- 
modating all differences between him and the Romans, but 
in reality to found him, and difcover, if poffiHe, his defign* 

h Diod. Sic. ubi fup. & lib* xxii. apud Laur. Rhodoraon. PJ«*'» 

in Pyrrh. Paufan. lib. i. Juain. lib. xviii, Dionyf. Halicar. Ant 

Rom. lib. xi). in Excerptis Valefii. . , 

Witfl 



Pjrrhus, 



The I0Ofy of tht Carthaginiaiis. ^73 

^th regarii to Sicily. Th& Carthagijiians at that time, were 
afraid, left either Pyrrhus, t)r die Romans, fhould concern 
themiclves with tbe affairs of that inland, axui tranfport 
£arce9 thither for the com]ueil of it« Indeed this feems to 
have been the real motive for fending 3 fleet to afliil the 
RcuBaos, rather than a deiire to be pun^al in the ob- 
Xbrvimce of their engageinents ^ 

As foon as Pyrrhus had fettled his affairs in Syracufe^ Pjrrhus*s 

Leontini, and the other places that fubmitted, he began to S^^^*P^' 

inarch with his army towards Agrigentnm ; which was then ^^L * 

pofieifed by a Carthaginian g^rrifon, under the command 

of Phintias. On his route he received intelligence, that 

the inhabitants had expelled the Carthaginians, and were 

refolved to admit him into their city, and join him with a 

^ood body of troops. Accordingly, upon his arrival on 

their frontiers, he was met by Softratus, at the head of 

eight thoufand Agrigentine foot, and eight humdred horie^ 

nothing at all inferior in military fkill and bravery to the 

£pirots ihemfelves. Spftratus likewife prevailed upon him 

' to take thirty towns of the neighbouring country under his 

prote£tipn. Being abundaaxtly fupplied with darts, arrows^ 

all other. Hind of arms, and battering engines, from Syra- 

cufe, he advanced into the Carthaginian (territories, and 

reduced Heraclea, which was for ibme time defended by^ 

party of Carthaginians. After this exploit, he received the 

fubmiflion of the A zones, Selinuntines, Haiicyaeans, £- 

geftines^ and others. Iii fhort, the Carthaginians found) 

that this conqueror foon deprived them of all their alliei^ 

made himfelf mafter of many of their towns without the 

leail oppofition, and was determined to make the Libyap 

fea» on the Gde of Greece, the boundary of their dominions. 

Pyrxhus, in conformity to the plan he hadproje£led, ad- '^aktsErjx 
vanced to Eryx, a fortrefs defended by a numerous Cartha- "^A^]"^* 
ginian ^arrifon, and of fuch natural ftrength, that it was ji^ae to LU 
almoft inacceffible. This place, with Yome difficulty, he iybaum. 
iovefied, and began to batter. The garrifon for fbme time 
made a vigorous* defence \ but at laft Pyrrhus entered the 
breach his rams had opened, and bore down all before him* 
In order to render his name famous to all pofterity, after 
the example of Hercules, he was the iirft who mounted 
the walls, after having killed many of the Africans with his 
own Sand. However, he met with fuch refiftance, that his 
fuccefs was dubious, till a freffi reinforcement of his troops 
fupported him in the attack , and then he eaCly carried the 

i Jiiftin. ubi fop. cap. %. Polyb. lib. iii. cap. 25.^ Diod. Sic. lib. 
xxli. in Excerpt, Rhodoman. & Hcefchelii. Vai. Max. Hb.ii. vii, 

B b 3 townt 



374 ^^^ Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 

town. Panormus, Erfta, and moft other places of confc- 
quencc, were cither taken by ftorm, or opened their gates 
to the vi£lor upon the firft fummons ; fo that now the Car- 
thaginians had no town left in Sicily but Lilybseum, which 
Pyrrhus befieged with all his forces ^, 
But is ob' Lilybxum was a maritime city of great ftrength, cfteem- 
iiaed to cd by the Carthaginians as one of the keys of Sicily. They 
rai/f it, had therefore raifed many outworks for its defence, drawn 
JL trench to prevent any approaches on the land-fide, and 
fortified it in the ftrongeft manner poflible. Being mafters 
of the fca, they landed a ftrong body of troops, juft as 
Pyrrhus was going to form the fiege of the place. But the 
rapidity of his conquefts fo terrified them, that they fent 
ambafladors to treat of a peace upon very advantageous 
terms, offering him either a large fum of money, or to aban- 
don all their conquefts in Sicily, except Lilybaeum. Pyr- 
rhus, elated with the fuccefsthat attended his arms, refufed 
to terminate the war upon any other condition than an ab- 
folute evacuation of Sicily. The C^thaginians therefore 
broke off the negociation, and Pyrrhus repeated his affaults 
with the utmoft fury. But the town being well farniflicd 
with all forts of provifions and military ftores, fituated up- 
on a rock, and defended by a numerous garrifon, the Car- 
thaginians repulfed him in every attack, and at the end of 
two months, obliged him fhamefully to raife the fiege '. 

Nptwithftanding this repulfe, Pyrrhus began t6 enter- 
tain thoughts of attacking the Carthaginians in the very 
*heart, of their dominions ; and therefore made all the ne- 
cefTary preparations to transfer the war into Africa. But 
having difgufted the Sicilian troops in his fervice, raoft of 
them deferted to the Carthaginians ; a defeftion which ob- 
liged him to lay afide all thoughts of that expedition, t The 
Carthaginians, informed of this fudden revolution, fent a 
ftrong reinforcement to their army in Sicily, in order to re- 
cover their ancient' conquefts ; whilft a powerful fleet cruif- 
ed round the ifland, to prevent Pyrrhus from making his 
cfcape ". • 
Yr. of Fl. That prince, therefore, meditating a return to^ Italy, em- 
4073. barked with the remains of his troops in the veffels he brought 
Ante Chr. ^q Sicily, being attended by an fidditional number of Sici- 
*'^^* lian tranfports, with a" confiderable treafure on boajrd, ac- 
He returns Carding to Appian. With this fleet he failed for Rhegium j 
tQ Italy. * but was intercepted at fea by the Carthaginian fquadron, 
and obliged to venture an engagement ; wherein being dc- 

k Diod. Sic. ubi fqpra, \ Plut. in Pyrrh. « Dion. 

Hal. apud Valtf. 

feated. 



T&e Hiftory, of the Carthagmans. 375 

feated,^ he loft feventy fliips, and moft of the reft wiere ren- 
dered unfit for fervice. v>o that he arrived at Locri wi:h 
only ten veflels, and from thence, with great difficulty 
marched to Tarentum. The Carthaginians^ after thisjiric- 
tory, I educed the Sicilian towns before in their pofleffion 
"with as mucli celerity as Pyrrhus had conquered them, and 
fettled their affairs in Sicily upon- a firmer footing than 
ever". * 

Although the Carthaginians fo eafily diflodged the Epi- ^^^^^ ^^^ 
cots from Sicily, yet they had two powerful enemies ftill to ^^^ €'V 
contend with in that iflanci, the iiyracufans and the Ma- Syracufan 
mertines* After Pyrrhus's departure, the former, being arnty^ and 
deftitute of a governor, fell into the greateft diforders* pr^torof 
"Whilft their army lay encamped near Mergana, a quarrel ^J^'^^fi* 
arofe betw^ixt the foldiers and the citizens, which had like 
to have been attended with fatal eiFefts. Upon this the fol- 
diers elefled Artemidorus and Hiero for their leaders, and 
vefted them with almoft abfolute authority. Hiero, though 
then very young, had all the good qualities to be wiflied 
for in any prince. By the addrefs and management of his 
friends, he- got pofieffion of the city, and foon after fup- 
pre0ed the contrary fa<^ion, . He is reprefented by the an<i- 
cient hiftorians a^ a confummate hero, and moft amiable 
prince. The Syracufan forces under his command, deftin- 
ed to ad againft the Carthaginians, after the departure of 
Pyrrhus, being moft excellently difciplined, obtained feve* 
ral conGderable advantages over them, and even in a fti^ort 
time grew formidable to that republic ®. 

The Mamertines, the other enemy the Carthaginians had ^ bnifac^ 
to encounter in Sicily, were originally a body of Campa- comnt 9fth$ 
nian mercenaries, which Agathocles took into his fervice. Mamn^ 
Thefe troops, being denied by the Syracufans the right of '^*''' 
giving their votes at the election of magiftratcs, immedi- 
ately had recourfe to arms ; an infurre£):ion which threw 
the city into great confufion : but fome perfons of diftinc- 
tion interpofing, it was atlaft agreed, that theCampanians 
ihould evacuate Sicily within a limited time, a^id carry off 
with them all their efteds. Upon the expiration of this 
term they retired to Meflana, in order to^ embark for their ^ 
native qpuntry. Here they met with a kind reception from 
the citizens ^ in return for which they perfidioufly, in the 
night,*either expelled or aifaffinated all the mdn, feized the 
women, and pillaged the city. After they had divided the 
lands and riches or the unhappy Meflknians amongft them* 

» Appian. Samnit. in Excerptis Valeiii. Plat, in Pyrrb. Juftin.^ 
]ib. xxii* cap« 3. . * Polyb. lib. i. Juftin. ubi fup« cap. 4. 

. B b 4 fclveg, 






^15 Tie Hifiory of the Carfbaginiani.^ 

fAveSi ihey caMtd th« cky Mamertlna, and affiimed iht 
name of Mamertmi) that is, martial or warlike people, ftom 
Afamersj a word which in their kfigtiage, beitig a dialeft 
of the Ofcan^ Signified Afarsj the god of war. By the af- 
fiftance of the Roman garrifon at Rhegiimi, which, under 
the command of Decius, a Catnpanian, had fci^ed upon 
flhat city in the fame infamous manner by which the Ma- 
mertines had poflefled themfelves of Meflana, they foon 
became very powerful, and made frequent incurfions both 
mto the Syracufan and Carthaginian territories. The Ro- 
mar(S| thinking their honour concerned in making an ex- 
ample of Decius, and his accomplices) for their flagrant 
violation of- public faith, attacked the city of Rhegium, and 
took it by ftorm, as has been related in a former part of 
this wt)rk. The Mamertines, being thus deprived of their 
chief fupport, could not long defend themfelves againft the 
littacks of Hiero, who, on account of their repeated depre- 
dations, declared war againft them. As that prince's troops 
were always ready to enter upon aftion, he immediately 
advanced to the frontiers, and cut off all communication 
betwixt the Mamertines and the neighbouring ftates. Then 
he encamped upon the river Longanus, where he put him-t 
fclf in a pofture tp receive the enemy, ia cafe they (hould 
venture an engagement p. 
fBjry ari The Mamertines, finding all the avenues leading to their 

sitaeked capital fectired by the enemy's detachments, and themfelves 

*Ja 1^*^'" ^^^^^^^^ ^° g"'^^^ diftrefs by Micro's poffcfling himfelf of fo 
f0pjnsero. commodious a^ camp, were obliged* to run the rifk of a bat* 
' tie. Drawing, therefore, their forces, which confifted of 
^* . eight thoufand foot, and fome horfc, out of Meflana, uh- 

* ' " ' der the command of Cios, they encamped on th« oppofitc 
bank, and made the neceflary difpofitions for paffing the 
river. In the mean time Hiero fent a detachment, confift- 
ing of two hundred chofen MelTanians, and four hundred, 
of his own men, with orders to occupy the hill ThoraXi 
and then wheeling about, attack the enemy in the rear, 
whilft he himfelf, with the main body of his army, charged 
them in front. The aftion for fome time was fliarp and 
bloody, both fides behaving with undaunted refolution : but 
at laft Hiero having gained an eminence near the river, 
which enabled him terribly to gall the enemy, and the de- 
tachment pofted upon the hill falling with great fury upon 
their rear, the Mamertines immediately gave ground, and 
foon after fled with precipitation. The Syracufans purfucd 

, r Polyb. lib. i, Appian. Saranit. ^ Died, Sicul. lib. xxii. in Exr 
cei ptis Valefii. 

/ - tbcnf 



them fo clofely, that they put every man of them to the 
fword) except C|os, who, havmg rtecetved many wounds 
in the engagement, fainted through lofs of blood, and be- 
in^ talien prifoner, is^s brought into Hiero'scamp. Hieroi^ 
bemg a prince of fingular humanity^ ordered all poilible 
care to be taken of that general j but Cios, foon after fee- 
ing his fon's horfe brought into the camp by a party of Sy- 
racufans, immediately concluded he was killed ^ an appre- 
henfion which threw him into fuch defpair, that he refufed . 
all fcomfort, tore in pieces the ligatures of his wounds, and . 
chofe rather to fall by his own hand, than furvive a perfon 
fo dear to his affeftion. This defeat, which Hiero gave the 
Mamertines in the plains of Myiae, was the greateft ftroke 
t\iat people ever received. Nor did they ever afterwards 
find. It poflible to re-eftablifli their (battered affairs. The 
troops were fo pleafed with Hiero's conduft in this battle, 
tha^ they proclaimed him king of Syraciife upon his arrival 
at that metropolis ^^ ^ 

* The Carthagiitians, apprifed of Hiero's fuccefs, began jndis 
to be uncafy at the progrefs of that prince's arms : but their o^uer- 
uneafinefs was much heightened, upon receiving intelli- reached h 
gence, that the Mamertines had made forrie overtures for '^/9'™<^" 
an accommodation, and even offered to put the city of Mef- ^'*'^*'' 
fan a into his hands. ^The Carthaginians endeavoured to 
break off this negociation ; but finding themfelves unable 
to prevent its taking effefl:, they formed»a fcheme to keep 
Meffana out of the hands of the Syracufans. This was exe- 
cuted by Hanriibalf who at that time commanded the Car*' 
tliaginian forces in Sicily. The artful African met Hiero 
advancing to take poffeffion of the place : he pretended to 
congratulate him on his late viftory, but in reality his in- 
tention was to retard the march of his troops to Meffana. 
In the mean time, by the affiftance of an officer fen t for 
that purpofe, he prevailed upon the Mamertines to admit 
a Carthaginian detachment into their metropolis. This mea- 
fure gave great offence to the Romans, and occafioned the 
firft Picnic war, which will be the fubjefl of the following 
fe£i:ion. 

q Diod. Sic. lib* xxii. in Excerpt. Rhodoman* & Hcefcfae]. Polyb. 
libi fupra. 

¥ • 

\ 

SECT. 



378 ^he Hiftofy of the Carfbaginians. 



SECT. VI. 

^he Hijiory of the Carthagiffians, from the firft to the 

fecond Punic War. 

TheCar- ^HOUGH the Carthaginians had entered into an al- 
thaginians * liance with the Romans a little before Pyrrhus landed 
a^^anci to jj^ Italy, and offered them powerful fuccours againft that 
hich * prince, yet, even at this time, a mutual jealoufy and diffi- 
gives great dence reigned between the two ftates. As their power was 
umbrage to very extenfive, their political views and interefts diametri- 
ihe Ro' cally oppofite, and both feemed afljUated by the fame fpirit 
mans* ^f ambition, it was morally impoffible but that, fooner or 

later, a bloody quarrel muft commence betwixt them. The 
Romans proving fuperior to Pyrrhus, obliged him to aban- 
don his Italian allies, whom, loon after his departure, they 
eafily reduced ^ The Samnites fufFereJfo terrible an over- 
throw from the confuls L. Papirius Ciirfor and Sp. Corvi- 
lius, furnamed Maximus, that from this time they ceafed 
to be a nation *. Th.c Brutians and Lucanians were next 
compelled to fubniit ; fo that only Tarentum remained to 
be chaftifed for incurring the difpleafure of the Romans. 
As that city had not only embroiled the Romans with their 
neighbours, but likewife deftroyed one of their fleets, in- 
fulted their ambafladors, invited Pyrrhus over into Italy, and 
greatly exerted itfelf in ailifting hijn to execute the projeft 
he had formed againft the Roman republic, they were re-, 
folved to make it feel the weight of their r^fentmcnt. The 
confuls, therefore, immediately after they had conquered 
the Brutians and Lucanians, ordered that place to be in- 
vefted ^ Milo at this time commanded the Epirot garrifon 
in the citadel, and the Tarentines had poffeffion of the town. 
Thefe two parties, being at variance, inftead of taking pro- 
. per meafures for the defence of the place, feemed to be pri- 
vately contriving how they might deliver it up to a foreign 
power. As the Carthaginians lay at that time with a'ftrong 
iquadroh of gallies, and a body of land-forces on board, be- 
fore the towp, and afFefted to treat only the Epirots as ene- 
mies, it was fufpefted that the Tarentines had folicited their 
afTiftance. On the other hand, Milo entisred into a nego- 
tiation with tne Romans, in order to put both the town and 
citadel into their hands ; which at laft he effe£ted, and that 

r Flpr. lib. i. cap. 18. Polyb* lib. i. • Zonar. in Anna!, 

lib. xiii. cap, 6. p. 377, 378, 379, t Liv, Epit lib. xii. xiV« 

XV, &e, 

even 



The Hijiory of the Carthagimans. 379 

even ty the copfcnt ^f the Taremincs ". The Carthagi* 
nians, having mifTed their aim, retired to their own coails: 
but the Romans were greatly chagrined at this flep, fince 
they thereby difcovered not only that the Carthaginians in- 
tended to deprive their republicof a city which, by right 
of conqueft, belonged to it, but likewife that they medi<i- 
•tated the conqiicft even of Italy itfelf; Befides, could the 
defign have been cariied into execution, it would have been 
a notorious infraftion of the treaty lately concluded be- 
tween the two ftates. This circumftance, therefore, con- 
vinced the Romans, that the Carthaginians paid little re- 
gard to the faith of treaties, and confequently that they \ 
could not be too much upon their guard againft the attempts 
of fo perfidious as well as enterprifing a nation. That the ' 
Romans drew fuch a conclufion from the conduft of the 
Carthaginians at this junfture, feems not only probable from 
the nature of the tranfaftion itfelf, but likewife from an ob- 
fervation of Cato ^ and Gellius. We may therefore confi- 
der that ftep as a remote or pretended caufe, at lead, of the 
firft Punic war. Indeed this is allowed by Zonaras, as well 
as Lucius Ampelius, one of their own later hiftorians*. 

The Rorhans, foon after the redudlion of Tarentum, fub- The Carm 
dued all the countries in Italy, from the remoteft part of thaginiant 
Etruria to the Ionian Sea, and from the Tyrrhenian Sea to J'^^'*^ °f^ 
the Adriatic. This rapid progrefs of their arms gave a frefti ,v^^^^ 
alarm to the Carthaginians, who now perceived, that the of the Ro^ 
Romans had a very (hort paflage over to Sicily^, and that mans. 
the continent of Italy could not limit their ambition. They 
therefore beheld all their poflefBons in that ifland as very 
precarious, unlefs they could fpeedily reduce the exorbitant 
power of their rival within narrower bounds. Such a con- 
fideration muft undoubtedly have increafed the jealoufy, gnd 
heightened the difguft, already conceived in the breafts of 
-the Carthaginians, and had mod certainly gre^ influence in 
pufhing them on to a rupture with^the Romans. 

The inhabitants of Rhegium, being expofed to the at- Decivs 
tempts of Pyrrhus, as well as the infults of the Carthagi- J^ffellius^ 
nians, who, foon after the arrival of that prince in Italy, '^}^^^''^ 
infefted all the Ionian Sea, applied to the Romans for a gar- Campani" 
rifon to defend them from invafion. In compliance with ansjfeixes 
their requeft, a legion of Campanians was railed (the Ro- on Rhe- 
mans at that time not being able to fpare any of their own S^'""* 
troops, as they were at war with Pyrrhus), and fent under 
the command of Decius Jubellius, a native of Campania, to 

« Zonar. Annal. lib. viii. cap. 6, p. 37^. ^ Cat. in Orig. 

Quart, apud Aul. GelU in No£l. Attic. Jib. x, cap. !• ' Lucius 

^mpel. in Lib. Memorial, cap. ^6. 

garrifon 



garri£)n that city. Thefe troops, for ibme time, did thrir . 
dutjr perfedly weU ; but at laft, in imitation cf the Mamer* 
tineSy who had poffe^d therafelves of Me€ana in a moft 
perfidious manner, atid, being of the fame nation, they be* 
gan to entertain thoughts of rendering themfeives indfi^D* 
dent Qt Rhegiiim. To this attempt they were ftnDo^ ex- 
cited by the beauty and opulence of the place* As the £!>• 
mans at that time were fully employed in die war villi 
Pyrrhus, they. thought this a favourable junfture to bring 
their projeft to bear, fince nothing but the oppofition vhidi 
might be apprehended from that quarter could pofiibly ob- 
ftrutSl the execution of their dcfign. Dedus,. diereCdre, to 
colour his proceedings, pretended to have advice, that tiu 
Rhegians had entered into a confpiraey to deliver up tbe 
place to Pyrrhus, and betray the gar^ifon into his hands. In 
order to prevent this misfortune, he fuggeftedthat there was 
a neceffity of taking pofTeflion of the town, and making an 
example of the confpirators. To fupport what he advanced, 
forged letters were produced, which he pretended to have 
intercepted, wherein all the particulars of the confpiraqf 
were related at large. This contrivance, together with a 
concerted fpeech on the occafion, made fiich an inapfcffion 
tapon the troops, tha^ they were prepared for any attempt, 
and ready at an inAant to execute their generai'is orders. In 
the mean time a perfon, privy to the defign, appearing, pre- 
tended to have certain intelligence, that Pyrrbiis had al- 
ready made a defcent on the territories of Rhegiuxn, and 
was advancing towards the city, in order to have a confer- 
ence with the principals of the confpiraey. This report 
ferving as a Ggnal to the Campanrans, the train being al- 
ready laid, they immediately took pofleiiion of the city, di- 
vided all the plunder amongll themfeives, and put moft of 
the men to the fword "f, 
ITht Ro* Not long after the perpetration of this horrid deed, Dc- 

^TVi' ^'"^ ^^^ expelled by the foldiery, and obliged to fly to Met , 
Tium Md ^^"^' There being feized by a violent pain in his eyes, he 
put to applied to a Rhegfan phyfician for relief; who, refcnting 

4eath all the injuries offered his country, prefcrlbed him a plaftcr of 
ViiCumpa- cantharides, which totally deprived him of fight, and then 
mwii» made his efcape. As foon as the Roman republic was in a 
condition to take vengeance of the perfidious legion he com- 
manded, (he fent L. Genucius Clepfina to bfefiege Rhegium 
with a powerful army. The Campanians, being rcinfoiwd 
by a body of Mamertines, made a vigorous defence ; tat 

y Poiyb. & Val. Max. ubi fup. Piod. Sic. lib. xxii. apad Valci) 
L'lv. Epic. lib. xii. 

the 



The Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 381 

tlie confal, redoubting his efforts, at laft poflciTed himfelf of 
the place. Appian relates^ that Declus, being detained in 
clofe cuftody, grew impatient of his confuiementy and laid 
violent hands on himfelf \ but whether this happened at 
Rofhe or Rhegtum^ he does not relate. In the mean time 
the Mamertines^ having fuftained a pnodigious fofs, not 
oply by the ilaughter of their troops fent to the affiilance o£ 
the Campanian^y but Hkewi{e by the death of Decius their 
faithful ally, and being likewife defeated by Hiero, found 
themfelves almoCb reduced to the neceffity of fubmitting to 
the Syracufans'. Some of the principal citizens, in this 
emergency, applied to the Romans for fuccours, who not 
being difpofed to'fupport them at that conjunfture, the ^ 
Carthaginian fafiion in MeiTana admitted a Carthaginian 
detachment into the town, which immediately took poflef- 
(ion of the citadel. The Roman party, incenfed at this in- 
cident, refolved to fend a fecond time to their friends for 
fpeedy relief. This ftep of the Carthaginians', therefore, 
muft be allowed to have been the immediate caufe of *the 
firft Punic war *• 

As for the motives which prompted the Carthaginians to Some ofthi 
this war, we have juft thrown out a hint. A defire of fe- principal 
curing and enlarging tjbeir acquiiitions in Sicily ; the ne- ^^^^'^'jfi^- 
ceflicy of humbling a proud rival, whofe interefts in every ^^f^^^J** 
nefpedk claihed with their's ; a refolution topreferve the do- 
minion of the fea, and that extenfive trade they then en- 
joyed ; thefe, we fay, were undoubtedly the principal mo- 
tives which prevailed upon them to engage in this danger- 
ous quarrel. The Romans likewife, in all probability, were; 
influenced by reafons of the fame kind. A thirft after em- * 
pire, an abhorrence of the Carthaginian genius ; a fear that 
fo faife a friend would get footing i» Italy ; in (hort, a no- 
tion that their political views were entirely repugnant to • 
thofe of the Carthaginians, difpofed them to a rupture with 
that people* 

The Roman faftion in Meflana, Hpon the admifGon of a jht Roman 
Carthaginian garrifon, difpatched frefli deputies to Rome, faffion in 
to folicit affiftance from the republic. Upon their arrival, Meffana 
in the name of their principals, they offered the pofleffion -d^ ^^/--* 
of Meflana to the Romans, and, in the moft moving terms, fuecours 
implored their proteftion. The confcript fathers, imagine- agAinft tAe 
ing that a compliance with this requeft would ^deftroy the Carthagi" 
uniformity of their condu£b, and caufe the lofs of the high "'^*'' 
€hara£ker they had gained by the fevere puniihment lately 

«Diod. Sic. lib. xxii. Appian, & Dio Caff, in Excerptis Valef. 
Polyb. ubt fupra, &c. Zo'nar. ubi lupra, p. 382. 3S3. Orof. lib: ii. 
cap. J. Val. iviax. lib. ii. cap. 7. 

inflicted 



382 ^he Hijlory of the Carthaginians. 

inflicted upon the perfidious Campanian legion, were for 
fome time in fufpenfe what plan to adopt. But afterwards 
coniidering what vaft territories the Carthaginians pofiefled 
in Africa and Spain ; that they were mailers of a great part 
of Sicily, Sardinia, and the other iflands lying on the coaft 
of Italy ; that they had a deHgn on Italy itfelf, which they 
would be enabled to put in execution by the redudion c^ 
, Sicily ; they either really were, or pretended to be, under 
great apprehenfions for their own fafety, and therefore ap- 
peared difpofed to fupport the Mamertines. This difpofi- 
tion was foon turned into a refolution by the unanimous 
voice of the people, who, having been greatly impoverifhed 
a by the late wars, and propofing to themfelves great advan- 
tages from an invafion of Sicily, to which likewife they 
were ftrongly excited by thofe who expedted the command 
of the armies deftined for that fervice, were very eager from 
the beginning to deliver Meflana The fenate, therefore, 
decreed, that this enterprize fhould be undertaken ; and, 
in confequence of this decree, which was likewife confirmed 
by the fuffrages of the people, Appius Claudius, one of the 
confuls, received orders to attempt a pafTage to Sicily, at 
the head of a powerful army. 
7hi eonful The conful, being obliged to remain fome time longer in 
fendsC Rome, where his prefence was neccffary, on account of 
Claudiusya fome affairs of moment, commanded Caius Claudius, a le- 
ie^ionary gJonary tribune, and a perfon of great; intrepidity and refo^ 
aa in /lis )^^i^"> ^^ advance with a few veffels to Rhcgium, Clau- 
/iad» dius, upon his arrival, obferving the Carthaginian fquadron 

to be greatly fuperior to his own, and abfolute maflers of 
the Streights, thought it would be madnefs to attempt at 
that tinfie tranfporting any forces to Sicily. However, he 
croiTed the Streights himfelf, and had a conference with 
• the Mamertmes; who, though at firft awed by a Cartha- 
ginian garrifon in the citadel, were prevailed upon to ac- 
cept of the Roman proteftion. Claudius, having thus hap- 
pily gained his point, returned to the oppofite Chore, and 
made the ne(;:efrary difpofitions for tranfporting a body of 
forces to MefTana *. 
TA#/?tf.' 'T'he Carthaginians, being informed of the refoludon 
mans land taken at Rome to aflift the Mamertines, fent a flrong fqua- 
in Sicily, dron of gallies, under the command of Hanno, to Sicily* 
That general, receiving intelligence that Claudius had failed 
, from Rhegium with a fmall R'on:^an fleet, and was fleering 
towards MefTana, in order to throw a body of troops into 

» Polyb. lib. i. Aur. Via, five Au^. Vit. Vir. Illuftr. 37. Lir. 
£pit. lib. xvit 

t&at 



The Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 383 

that place, immediately went in fearch of him ; and, com- 
, ing up with him near the coaft of Sicily, attacked the Ro- 
mans with great fury. 

During the engagement a violent ftorm arofe> which 
dafhed many of the Roman veflels in pieces againft the 
rocks. Claudius, therefore, finding himfelf engaged with 
two enemies at once, was forced to give way. Being 
worfted in the a£ti6n, niany of his (hips were taken, others 
deftroyed, and he himfelf was obliged to retire with great 
difficulty to Rhegium. Hanno reilored all the vefTels he 
had taken from Claudius; but ordered the deputies fent 
with them to expoftulate with the Roman general, upon 
his infra6fcion of the treaties fubfifting between the two re- 
publics. This expoftulation, however juft, produced an 
open rupture 5 Claudius, foon after, pofTeffing himfelf of 
MefTana. Hanno, the Carthaginian commandant in tbe 
citadel, was forced to evacuate the place, as has been al- 
ready related in the hiftory of Syracufe ; for which he was 
afterwards crucified at Carthage". 

The Carthaginians, being deterniined to diflodge the Re The Car* 
mans from Meflana, raifed a formidable, army, and equip- thaginians ^ 
ped a powerful fleet, for that purpofe, appointing another ^»«^''«* 
Hanno, the fon of Hannibal, commander in chiet of thofe S^*^ ^^ 
forces. This general landed his troops at Lilybaeum, and Meffana^ 
then marched to Selinus, near which city he encamped ; 
from whence, at the head of a confic^erable detachment, he 
advanced to Agrigentum, and repaired the fortifications of 
the citadel. The Agrigentines were eafily prevailed upon 
to declare for the Carthaginians ; and Hanno, upon his re- 
turn to the camp at Selinus, found ambafladors from Hiero, 
who had orders to concert with him the proper meafures 
for driving the Romans out of Sicily. Purfuant to the^plan 
of operations Hanno and Hiero had concerted, thofe two » 
generals marched with their united forces to Meffana, and . 
immediately invefted the town. Before they befieged the 
place in form, they fummoned the Roman garrifon to fur- 
render ; with which they refufing to comply, Hanno put 
all the Italian foldiers in the Carthaginian fervice to the 
fword, and thereby rendered an accommodation with the 
Romans, on the part of his nation, impra£licable. The 
Carthaginians pitched their tents at Senes, a town in the 
neighbourhood of Mefiana, and pofted their fleet near cape 
Pelorus, to ptevent any fupplies arriving by fea ; whilft 
Hiero encamped on Mount Chalcis, in order to cut oflF all 

^ Polyb. ubi fupr^. Val. Max. lib. ii« cap. 7. Vide & Juftin. 
at^ueDiodor. paflii 

€om«» 



384 



dtfnUid fy 
tkt coufid 
Appim 
Claudius* 



mans de» 
iach Hiero 
from the 
Cartha- 
ginian /'«• 
ttrefi. 



The Hifiory of the Carlh^gmaHS. 

commumcatiofi betwixt the bcficged and the neighbouring 
country. The Romany, being apprifed of tbefe motionsi 
difpatched the conful Applus Claudius^ at the head of ^ 
powerful army^ to Rhegtum \ wbO| upea his arrival, con- 
jured Hiero, by the ancient friendship betwixt the RomiaHs 
and him, to defift from the fiege he bad undertaken^ pro- 
miiiiig at the fafine time» that not the leail damage (hould 
be o4ercd to hi» territories. Hiero anfwered, that theMa- 
mertiaes had poflefled themfelves of Meflana in the moft 
Tillainous manner ; that they had rafed the cities of Gela 
smd Camarina^ and treated the inbabftants with the moA 
horrid cruehy; that therefore fuch a neft of banditti ought 
to be entirely extirpated. He added, that the Romani 
could not, vitbottt a manifeft deviation from their former 
equity, take them under theirr protedlion i and that if) coo- 
tt^try to expe£laitioa, this (hould happen, the world would 
matwrally coiiclndei that they were not influenced by the 
maxims of rigid probity and juflicei but fway^d by ambi* 
tion, their aim being not to fuccour the diftrefled,, but to 
make themfelves m^ers of the ifland of Sicily ^. 

The confuJ, kaviog received thi» anfwer, refolved (a 
inrade Sicily with all poffible expedition. This he did ia 
the manner already related. The fucceis of the defcent 
animated bim to attempt the relief of Meflana, which was 
blocked up by Hiero. That prince was forced to a battle i 
and at lad defeated, though the Romam eavalry were at firft 
pot into diforder. The legione fought w^h fo much bra- 
Tery, that it was not poffible to break through them. The 
eoafequenee of this vi&ory was a free p^flage for the con- 
querors into the city they came to relieve. Not fatisficd 
with this, the conful next attempted to force the Cartha- 
ginian camp ; but he mifcarried in the attempt* HowCFcr^ 
entking the enemy out of their entrenchments into the 
plain 9 be handled them fo roughly, that they could make 
no progrefs in* the fiege of Meflana, as long as he continued 
in Sicily. The misfortunes attending Hiero and the Car- 
thaginians at this jun£lnre feem to have been owi«g to niu- 
tuaTjealoufy, which hindered thofe powers from aaingin 
eoncerc. Be that as it may, this affair gave Hiero a difgttft 
to the Carthaginians, and flrongly difpofed him to aa ac« 
commodation with tlie Romans^* 

After the con&rs departure, Hiero and the Cartbagioi" 
ans^ coile£iing a body of regular troops', reduced tnvAf 

c Polyb. ubi fupra. Died. Sic, in Excerpt. KRodoman. & Heefchelff. 
Georg, SynccJ, Chronograph, p 175. edit. Par. 165a. ^ Polybi 

$c Dioilor. ubi fupra. Sex, Jul. Frontin. Strat. lib* j. cap. 4* tx. "• 
Vide etiamEtttiop* lib. ii. « '^ - 

towns 



T&^ Hifiory of the Carfhaginians. . 385 

towns th^t had fallen to the enemy ; but the fuccceding 
confuls, Manius 0£taciIius Craffus and Manius Valerius 
Flaccus, tranfporring to Sicily two confular armies^ confid- 
ing each of eight thoufand legionaries, and fix hundred 
borfe, with a great namber of auxiliaries, upon their arrival 
fecovered moft of thofe places. They firft befieged Adra.- 
nom, and took it by ftorm. Afterwards they advanced to 
Centuripe, and .encamped before that city, Whilft they 
were making preparations for an attack, the Alsefinians 
dcHred to be taken under the proteftion of the Romans J 
and about fixty-feven other town followed their exam- 
ple. The confuls, animated by fuch a rapid progrefs, ad- 
vanced with all their forces towards Syracufe, the capital 
of the ifland, with an intention to form the fiege of that 
city- Their approach diffufed terror throughout the iiland| 
and fo intimidated Hiero, who now plainly difcovered the 
great fuperiority of the Romans in this war, that he begaa 
fo entertain thoughts of renewing the negotiation, which 
Claudius's fudden departure from Sicily had broken off to- 
wards theclofe of the laft campaign. 

The Syracufan nobility, having now a profpeft of nothing 
but a long train of calamities, entreated their fovereign to 
make overtures for a peace to the Roman generab^ and there- 
by prevent the ruin that threatened them. Such a defire con- 
curring with Hiero's natural fentiments, he readily complied 
with their TCqueft; fo that, difpatchmg ambafladors imme- 
diately to the Roman camp, a treaty of friendfhip and al- 
liance was concluded to the fatisfadion of both parties. 
Many things induced the Romans to facilitate fo falutary a 
work : hut it will be fufl&cient to obferve here, that, by the 
conclufion of this treaty, they obtained, according to Eu- 
tropius, two hundred talents of filver, or, as Diqdorus al^ 
ferts, a bundretl and forty thoufand drachmas, a plentiful ^ 

fupply of provifions through the future courfe of this war, 
and found themfelves enabled to reduce their aimy in Sicily 
to two legions '. 

The intereft both of Hiero and the Romans rendered an 'wiUAiAt 
accommodation neceflary. The Romans could not have Cari&agi* 
carrrcd on the war with any tolerable profpeft of fuccefs for ^'^"^ *** . 
want of provifions, fince the Carthaginians, being mailers pMruff, 
at fea, would eafily have intercepted their convoys, and cuj: butinvmfu 
off all fupplies from the coafts of Italy. - On the other hand 
Hiero found the Carthaginians not able to proteft hisdomi- 
nionsy nor himfelf in a capacity to make head againil the 

« Zonar. u>>i fupra, p. 379,380. Eutrop. Hift. Rom. lib. ii. Po« 
lyaen. Strat. lib. vi. cap. 16. ex. 4. Liv. Flor. & Diod. Sic. ubi fupra. 

Vol. XV, C c confuls* 



385 7 he Hijlory of the Carihaginians* 

» 

confuU* The peace concluded at (irft was not perpetual, 
but only for a term of fourteen years. The Carthaginians 
endeavoured by all poflible means to obftrufi the negotia- 
tion, but without effefl:. With this view Hannibal, the 
Carthagmian general » advanced to Xiphonia, giving Hiero 
to undefftandy that he was in a condition to fupport him$ 
but hearing that every thing was fettled, he thought proper 
to retire ^ 

The Carthaginians, being deferted by their ally, found 
themfelves obliged to bear the whole burden of the war, 
which yet they believed themfelves able to fuftain. They 
were fo far from being difpirited on this occaGon, that they 
were refolved to drive the Romans out of Sicily, and even 
oblige king Hiero to renounce his new alliance. They 
placed numerous garrifons in all their frontiers, completed 
the works of their fortified towns, and fent officers, with 
large fums of money, to make levies in Liguria, Gaul, and 
Iberia. The Romans, in the mean time, marching into the 
* Carthaginian territories, invefted Adranon and Macella, 
which they prefled with great vigour, but were repulfed in 
all their aiTauIts, and at lalt forced to abandon the enter- 
Tki Rq' prize. However, they met with fuccefs at Segefta, which, 
!?^*^r'' having been founded by iEn^as, or at lead one of his Tro- 
ruhoinnj J^" companions, and confequently related to the Romans, 
i« Sicily* opened its gates to the conful, after having rnaffacred the 
Carthaginian garrifon. The people of Aliena followed their 
example, Hilara, Tyrita, and Afcela, were carried fword 
in hand. The Tyndaritcs propofed fubmitting upon the 
firft appearance 6i the Roman army, had they not been 
prevented by the Carthaginians, who, upon intelligence of 
their defign, carried off the principal citizens as boftages, 
and conveyed all the provifions and military ftores in the 
place to Lilybaeum. After thefe exploits, thaconfuls retired 
to Rhegium, where they took up their winter-quarters **. 
V^hff defeat For the next campaign the Carthaginians appointed Han- 
the Car- no commander in chief of all their forces, who made Agri* 
^i^wM«/, geatum a place of arms, and there fixed his principal ma- 
Jgr^en* g^zine. The confuls L. Pofthumius Megellus and Q^Ma- 
turn, milius Vitulus, advanced with a powerful army into the 

neighbourhood of that city, and, after having blocked it up 
for fome months, bcfieged it in form. As this fiege hap- 
pened in the middle of harveft, the Carthaginian garrifoni 
obferving great numbers of the enemy difperfed in the 6clds, 
in order to carry oiF the corn to their camp, made a vigofOflS 

f Geor Synccl. in Chronogr. p. 275. s Polybi Diodor. 

SicuK Liv. Oiof. Si Zonar. ubi fupra* 

faliy. 



The Hiftory of the CarthaginiaHh 387 

fally, but many to pieces, and had almoft forced their en-^ 
trenchments ; but were at lafl: driven back into the town. 
In the mean time Hannibal, the fon of Gifco, who com« 
manded in the place, finding the fiege pulhed on with fuch 
vigour, that he muft be obliged to capitulate, unlefs fpeedily 
relieved, difp'atched reiterated exprefies to Carth'^ge, with an 
account qf his diftrefs; Hereupon Hanno received orders 
to attempt raifing the (iege : for this purpofe he firft march-^ 
cd to Heraclea, and from thence to Erbefla, where pofting 
himfelf, he fo ftraitened the Roman army, that they were 
in great danger of perifhing for want of provifions. Though 
that army at firft, according to Diodorus, confifted of a 
hundred thoufand men, moil of whom were Sicilians, not 
a fourth part now remained fit for fervice ; and the plague 
at the fame tirne breaking out amongft them, they found 
themfehres in a very melancholy (ituation. This induced 
the confuls to think of attacking Hanno, though they had 
before declined an engagement. Kfaving at that time plenty 
of provifions, and being ftrongly entrenched, they imagined 
themfelves able to ftarve the garrifon to a furrender ; but 
being now reduced to great diftrefs, they challenged the 
enemy, who on their part did not fliew the fame difpofition 
to fight. The Romans, howeyer, reaped confiderable ad- 
vantages from this cdndufl: ; for Hiero, finding the Cartha-* 
ginians fuperior to his new allies, had delayed fupporting 
them in the manner he was bound by the laft treaty $ where-* 
as at this time, feeing the face of affairs changed, he fup-^ 
plied them in great abundance with aU kinds of provifions* 
Many Sicilian cities likewife, animated by the fame events 
fent deputations to the Romans, and joined them with a 
large bddy of forces. Hanno advanced fome time after into 
a plain near the Roman camp, and drew up his army in or-* 
. der of battle. In the mean time the Roman generals, by 
way of precaution, had potted proper detachments torepulfe 
any fally the befieged might makp ; and, upon Hanno's ap- 
proach, privately detached another body to attack the Car- 
thaginian rear. As foon as ttiis difpofition was made> the 
Roman aritly, moving out of their trenches into the plain^ 
faced the enemy, and, toiwards evening, a bloody engage- 
ment enfued : but the Romans behaved with fuch bravery, 
that, not with ftamding ah obftinate refiftance, they routed 
the Carthaginians, putting to the fword great numbers o£ 
their troops, and killing fome of their elephants. Hannibal, 
during the engagement, fitllied out with the beft part of the 
garrifon 5 but was repulfed with confiderable lofs. Imme- 
diately afterwards he abandoned the place to the Romans ; 
and Hanno fled^ with the remains of his army, to Herac-* 

C c 2 lea. 



$88 



ttawums 
mm J Car* 
SkagimiaMS 



Boodtf 
takes a 
Roman 
fquadron of 
gaUies\aHd 
the Romans 
beat Han* 
nibalt thi 
Cartkagi" 
nian ad- 
mirals 



Tbt ST^ory of the Cartbaginiani. 

ka* The fiege of Agrigentum continued feven months, the 
Romans lofing thirty thoufand foot, and five hundred and 
forty horfe, befoie the town **. 

The Carthaginiads, greatly mortified at the ill fucceisof 
their arnu during this campaign, attributed it, as ufual, to 
the bad conduA of their oenerai ; and therefore not only 
fined Hanno an immenfe uim of money, but likewife de» 
jirived him of his commiifion, appointing Hamikartocom* 
mand the forces in Sicily. Hannibal, an ofiicer of great 
repute, took upon him the conunand of the fleet, iod ro« 
ceived orders rrom Hamilcar to ravace the coafts of Italy, 
that by fuch a diveriion. He might enable the kuid-forceato 
attack more fuccefsfuHy the Roman conquefts in Sicily: bat 
the Romans had taken fuch care to guard their coafts, by 
pofting detachments in proper places to prerent the enemy 
from making a defeent, that this defign was rendered abor- 
tive, and the confui C. Duilios landed two legions in Sicily 
without oppofition. Upon his arrival, he advanced to My- 
tiftratum, and befieged that fortre£s ; but, notwithftaadiif 
the large train of battering engines he had wi(h him, was 
obliged to raife the fiege, and retire with great loft. In the 
fRean time Hamilcar, fufpe^ing a body of Gallic merana- 
ries in liis army of a defign to defert to the enemy, becaufe 
they had lately mutinied for want of pay, commaitded them 
to fiorm a town defended by a Roman garrifon, of wfaicb, 
by means of his fpies, he gave- the Romans private intelli- 
gence. The Romans, informed of their approach, laid an 
ambufcade for the Gauls ; into which falUng, and not be- 
ing fupported by Hamilcar, they w^ere cut off to a man. 
The confui, being ignorant of Hamilcar's view, eftcemtd 
the adion as a fignal advantage gained over the enemy, 
and, animated by foccefs, made preparations for a vigor- 
ous attack upon the Carthaginian territories ; bnt he was 
ivcalled to command the fleet, and confequently^ for fome 
time, obliged to fufpend the operations by land K 

The Romans, obferving that the coafts of Italy lay ex* 
pofed to the depredations of the Carthaginian fleets, whilft 
Africa enjoved all the fwectsof peace,^werc refolvcdtoequip 
a fleet capaoie of engaging any the Carthaginians could & 
out againft themv Hannibal, the Carthaginian admiral* 
being defirCAis of deftroying the Roman navy in its infancy^ 
found means to decoy Cneius^ or, as Polybios calls biis, 
Caius Cornelius Scipio, with feventeea new^baik gaUics> 
to the port of Lrpara* Upon his acrifval the Carthaginiaitfv 

h Zonar. ubi fuprsk* * Diodor. SicuK.&Polyb, ubifupi* 

Zonar. lib. viii. cap. lo, Flor. lib. \u cap. »• Liv. in Epit. xvu. 
Frontin. Strst.Jib. iii. cap. 16. ex. 3. 

wha 



The Uifiory of the. Carthaghiaiu.. g 8^ 

wKo had lent before a fquadron into that harbour under the 

command of Boodes, intreated peace in'themoft fuppliant 

manner* pretending to fubmit to whatever conditions the 

Romans ihould think fit to prefcribe. At the fame time 

they acquainted him, that the Carthaginian admiral was io 

extremely indifpofed, that he could not poffibly come on 

- board his galleyi or that otberwife he would have waited 

upon him, and made the overture in perfon. Wherefore 

they intreated him to honour Boodes with his company ^ in 

order to fettle a firm and lafting peace between the two na* 

tions. The credulous Roman, liilening to this propofal, 

Mras detained prifoner by the perfidious Carthaginian, and ' 

his whole fquadron taken after a faint refiftance. Hannibal 

himfelf committed «great ravages on the coafts of Italy^ 

^whither he had advanced at the head of fifty gallies, to re* 

connoitre the Roman naval forces ; but he was afterwards 

attacked in his turn, loft the heft part of his (hips, and with 

great difficulty made his efcape. This in fome degree raifed 

the drooping fpirits of the Romans, who were much de* 

jeded at the lofs they had before fuftained ^. 

Notwithftanding this defeat, the Carthaginians entertain- Dutlius th 
ed ftill a very contemptible opinion of the Roman fleet, eon/ulgains 
^vhich was but in its infancy. The Romans, on the other another Jigm^ 
hand, dreaded the naval force of the Carthaginians, though "^^'^j^^KP 
they had gained an advantage over Hannibal, efpecially at •'*'^'''"*"^ 
they had loft one of their confuls, who was an able and brave 
commander. In order, therefore, to make head againft the 
enemy upon the watry element, the fenate ordered the con* 
ful, & Duiiius, immediately to leave Sicily, and aflume 
the command of the fquadron then in the ftreights of Rhe- 
gium : after which engaging the Carthaginians* by the help 
of the machind called corvus, defeated ' them entirely, 
Ag the Roman veflels were much inferior to the Carthagi* 
nian in lightnefs and aftivity, the corvus was invented to 
remedy that defect. Hannibal, though he performed the 
part of a gallant commander in this a£^ion, was obliged to 
abandon his feptireme, or admiral galley, to the enemy, and 
efcape in a fmall boat. The reft of the Carthaginian gaU 
lies foon after came up with the Romans ; but met with 
the fame fate. The lofs of the Carthaginians in this dou- 
ble engagement is varioufly related by the Ro/nan hifto- 
rians ; but the moft authentic account is contained in the 
infcription on the Columna Roftrata of Duiiius, ftill pre- 
ferved at Rome. Hannibal, having before fle4 fronl Agri-* 

^ Diod. Sicul. Liv. Pdyb. & Zonar. ubi fupra. Poljren. Strat. 
]ib* vi. cap. i6. ex. 5. 

C 3 gentum. 



« 



I90 Ti^ Hiftory of the Carthaginians* 

prentum) would moft certainly have been crucified upon hit 
arrival at Carthage, had he not, by an inftance of Punic 
fubtlety, avoided the impending danger. However, they 
removed him from the command of the fea-forces. Ihia 
we learn from Orofius and Zonaras ; but according to Po« 
lybius, he was continued in that pod, and afterwards cru- 
cified by his own men> upon their receiving another defeat 
from the Romans K 
Jiamilear Fortune, however, did not entirely abandon the Cartba- 
Jurprifts ginians. Their arms in Sicily were attended with fuccefs 
thf ^J^^' after the departure of Duilius : for though the Romans, 
^^^^r'* r- ^^ confequence of their late viftory, obliged the Carthagi* 
Ifftrai nians to raife the fiege of Segefta, which a body of their 
towns ifi troops had formed, and carried the town of Macella by af- 
SUi(y^ fault ; yet Hamilcar, whofe head-quarters were at Panor- 
mus,only waited for a favourable opportunity to attack them. 
In the mean time a ^ifpute arofe in the Roman camp, be- 
tween the auxiliary troops and the legionaries, which increaf* 
ed to fuch a height, that a feparation feemed inevitable, the 
former having aftually marked out a camp for themfelves 
between Paropus and Thermae. A general much lefs vigi- 
lant than Hamilcar would naturally have taken advantage 
I of fuch a diffenfion : the Carthaginians, therefore, fur- 

prifing them before they could entrench then^felves, put 
four thoufand, according to Polybius, or, as Diodorus re- 
lates, fix thoufand of them to the fword, and difperfed the 
leO;. After this exploit Hamilcar reduced Camarina and 
Enna, and fortified Drepanum with a wall. Then advanc- 
ing to Eryx, he almoft deftroyed that ancient city, leaving 
only a fmall part (landing to cover the famous temple of 
Venus Erycina, fqppofed to have been built by ^neas; 
and carried the inhabitants to Drepanum. This ftep he 
took to prevent the Romans from taking poft in that for- 
trefs, in cafe the citizens fhould be difpofed to invite them 
thither. In fhort, he reduced many cities, partly by force, 
and partly by treachery ; and would have conquered the 
whole ifland, haid not Florus, the Roman general, after 
Duilius was gone to Rome, behaved with great vigilance 
and bravery. However, this fuccefs was foon at an endi 
as we (hall fee immediately ". 
?^'*y^ Hannibal, according to Polybius, after the defeat off 
^y^hiRo' Myiae, returned to Carthage ; where being reinforced by a 
^ans, and number of gallies, and attended by many officers of great 
'crucified bj merit, hc put to fea again, fleering his courfc for the 

his oivt ^ 

Ffl?* ' Aurcl. Vift. & Zonar. \^bi fup, Pojyb. uUi fup. # Pi«^* 

Sic. ff Polyb. ubi fupr^. ^' 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 391. 

' coaft of Sardinia. He had not been long in one of the har" 
boars in that ifland, probably Calarls, now Cagliari, when 
he wasfurprifed by the Romans^ who carried off many of 
his, (hips, and took great numbers of his men prifoners. 
This difafter fo incenfcd the reft, that they feized their ad- 
miral, and crucified him; but who was his Immediate fuc- 
cefTor does not appear. The Romans, however, reaped no 
other advantage from this aflion than (hewing their a£^i- 
vity, encouraging their allies, and in a fmail degree dimi- 
ni(hing the naval power of their rival. Had Hannibal ef- 
caped death at this time, it is probable he would have met 
vrith it at his return to Carthage ; iince it was confidered * 
there as the higheft crime in a general to be unfuccefsfuK 
Nothing farther material happened this campaign, or the 
following, if we give credit to Polybius '. 

The following campaign Hamilcar polled himfelf at Pa- ^hepro- 
normus, and placed proper detachments at the principal EXtf^^f^^* 
avenues to the city, to prevent a furprize. In the mean time ^Icih^* ^ 
C. Aquilius Florus, the Roman general, having received a 

• reinforcement, advanced into the neighbourhood of Panor* 
mas, and offered the enemy battle ; but finding that they 
would not leave the town, and that he was not (Irong 
enough to undertake the fiege of the place, he marched with 
his army to Hippana, and took it by aflault. From thence 
he proceeded to Mytiftratum, a fortrefs which the Romans 
had twice ineffedually befieged. Florus made his approaches 
fo (lowly, either through the bad difpofition of the ground, 

. or the bravery of the Carthaginian garrifon, that he could 
not reduce the city before the expiration of his office. How- 
ever, early next fpring his fucccfTo^ A. Attilius Collatinus, 
or, as Zonaras calls him, A. Attilius Latinus, joining the 
army before Mytiftratum with a ftrong body of forces, pufh- 
ed on the (iege with fuch vigour, that the Carthaginian 
garrifon abandoned ^he town in the night, and the citizen^ 
opened their gates to the Romans. The foldicrs, enraged 
at the obftinate defence they ha'd made, and their attach- 
ment to the Caithaginians, at firft put all the inhabitants 
without diftinftion to the fword ; but the conful caufing 
proclamation to be made, that every Roman foldier (hould 
pofTefs the perfon and efFefts of thofe he took prifoners, the 
(laughter ceafed. However, the city itfelf was levelled with 
the ground, and the remaining part of the inhabitants fold 
for (laves. The conful next attacked Camarina, and in his 
march was near being cut off with his whole army by a ftra- 
Itagem of Hamilcar, as has been already related. This towa 

n Polyb. &;^Zonar. ubi fupr** 

. C4 he. 



^^ The Hifiwy dfm Carthaginians. 

he .found fo (trong, and defaiukd by fo numerous a garri* 
fon» that he could not make htmfelf mafter of it^ till he ro* 
ceived a large train of battering engines, and other fuppliesi 
from king Hiero. After thefe arrived the Romans foon 
carried the town» which they rafed, and fold the inhabitants - 
for Daves. Tht conful afterwards felled upon Enna by 
treachery, and maflacred the Carthaguiiangarrifon. Sittaca 
he took by ilorm, and Camicus, a ca(Ue belonging to the 
Agrigentines, was betrayed to his arms. Other places of 
lefs importance furrendered of courfe ; fo that the Cartha-* 
ginians began to lofe ground confider^hly, notwitfadanding 
their late fuccefles* The RomanSi looking upon Camicus 
as a pod of confequence, left a confiderable party of men i 
to defend it ; and having pofleffed themfelVes of Erbeffus, I 
^ which was deferted by its inhabitants, made preparations* to 

fit down before Lipara with all their forces °. 
«i Riranfi In the mean time L. Cornelius ScipiQ|Florus*scolleague| 
inSardiniu failed, with the fquadron under his command, towards 
and Ct^ Sardinia and Corfica, two iflands in the Tyrrhenian Sea, fub- 
•^^^' jc£k to Carthage. The conful firft made a defcent in Corfica, 

and took Aleria, or, as Zonaras calls it, Valeria, by ftorm; 
upon which the other towns fubmitted, that being the prin- 
cipal place of the whole ifland. As the Carthaginians had 
a ftrong fleet of gallies on the coad qf Sardinia, they were 
in no great pain for that ifland. Upon Scipio's moving that 
way they detached one part of it to reconnoitre him ; whict 
^ immediately retired at his approach : but upon his entering 
the jport of Olbia, the appearance of the whole Carthagiiuan 
fquadron riding at anchor was fo terrible, that he flieeredoff 
without putting his defigo in execution. As be had not re- 
ceived proper intelligence of the enemy's ftrength, he had 
jiot taken the necefliry meafurcs to render the expedition 
f^iccefsful, and therefore found himfelf obliged to retreat 
in a precipitate manner. But fome autj^ors give us to on* 
derfliand, that foon after, having been furniihed with a 
larger body of land-forces, he returned, and reduced Olbja. 
Other places of lefs note, upon the reduftion of that town, 
furrendered ; but he. could not reduce the whole iflaiKJ. 
However,, according to Eutropius, be carried ofi^a vaft nunH 
ber both of the Corfi and Sardi prifoners p. 

Next year Hamilcar, being informed that the Romans 
bad a defign upon Lipara, threw a body of forces into that 

o Polyb. ubi fup. Zonar. lib, viii. cap. ii. p. 387. Dioil. SicJib# 
3ixiii in Excerpt. Rhodoman. Aurel. Vj5t. five Au£(. Vit.VirIl- 
l«|{lr.iii Attil. Collatin. jS. Liv. Epit. lib.xvii. Eatrop. Kb.ii.Orof. 
Jib. iv. cap, 7. ^ ji I'olyb. Liv. Zonar. ubi fupra* FlorJib*"* 

cap. 2. Orof, lib. iv. cap* 7, Eutrop. lib* iu 
T ^ town 



The Hj^&ry €fth€ Carthaginktns. . ^9} 

town hj iiight) unknown to the conful. This ftep was 7he Ro- 
taken fo privately and unexpe^edly, that the citizens, mans,fya 
tbough ftrongly inclined to the Romans, found themfelves Jl^afag^f»» 
incapable of making any red (lance. The conful, arriving ^artkaei^ 

>J>cfore the place, made a vigorous attack ; but was repulfed „ians a 
by Hamiicar, at the head of the garrifon, with grjpat flaugh-- blow in 
ter. At the fame time Sulpicius, who then a6led as admi- Sardinia. 
rol, after having hovered feveral days upon the coaft of Sar- ^ 

dinia, made a defcent, and completed the reduflion of that 
ifland. According to Florus, by rafing the city of Caralis 
or Carala, the capital of the ifland, he fo terrified the Sardi, 
that they fubmitted. Zonaras informs us, that the con- 
trary winds prevented an engagement between Sulpicius and 
the Carthaginians I but that afterwards Attilius, who com* 
manded the land-forces, found an opportunity of imt)ofing 
upon the Carthaginian admiral, by means of fome deferters, 
whom he bribed to affure him that the Romans intended 
to land in Africa. Upon this, according to the fame au- 
thor, the Carthaginian fqtiadron, having been fome time 
before driven by ftrcfs of weather into one of the ports of 
Sardinia, departed immediately, though in the night, and 
fet fail for Africa. They were attacked by Sulpicius, who 
being apprifed of the intelligence they had received, ported 
him&if in a proper place to intercept them, and either took 
or fnnk, by favour of the night, moft of their fliips. The 
fuccefs of this ftratagem encouraged the Romans eameftly 
to prepare for an^ expedition to Africa, as the only means to 
oblige the enemy to evacuate Sicily, and procure peace upon 
their own terms ^. 

The Roman forces in Sicily, under the command of A. The ko» 
Attilius Coliatinus or Calatinus, befieged Lipara a fecond "'^"^ ond 
time, though they had been routed by the Carthaginians at ^^^^^g^- 
the clofe of the laft campaign. C. Attilius Regulus, one of ^^^ ^y^ 
the new cpnfuls, who commanded the fleet, had two naval afters in 
engagements with the enemy off the coafts of Sicily, in the this fnari-' 
firft of which he loft nine gallics, but in the other he de- ''^* '^^^^ 
feated the Carthaginian fquadron, finking ten, and taking 
eight of their veflels. The other conful, about the fame 
time, ravaged the ifland of Melita. Thefe advantages ftill 
farther excited the Romans to attack the African republic in 

. the very he^rt of its dominions '. 

A« neither of the late aftions had been decifive, both par- 'f^'y ^oth 
tics made fuch great and expeditious preparations, that the P^^P^f^fir 
enfuing fummer, the ninth year of tfis war, they had col- ^«^^^^ 

mtnt* 
nZonar. ubi fupra, cap. 12, 13. Polyb. Liv^ & Flor* ubi fupra. 
r piod* $icul. Oroi* ubi fupra. 

led^d 



594 ^^^ Hiflory of the Carthaginians. 

Ie£ted their whole naval force, in order to dete]:pilne the 
fate of Sicily, as well as the domihion of the fea, and even 
that of Carthage itfelf. The confuls, L. Manlius Vulfo 
and C. Attiiius Regulus, with the Roman fleet under their 
command, confiding of three hundred and thirty gallies of 
different fizes, r^dezvoufed at MelTana; from thence, 
ftretching their line along thecoaft towards cape Pachynum, 
after having doubled the cape, they failed diretUy to £cno-p 
mos, where they embarked their land<>forces. About the 
fame time the Carthaginian fquadron, compofed of three 
hundred and fifty fail, arrived at Lilybaeum, the only place 
they had left in »Sicily except Panormus, and a few towns 
of lefsnote in that neighbourhood. They did not remain 
loQg here, but purfuing their projeded courfe, took up 
their ftation at Heraclea Minoa, where they made the necef- 
fary difpdfitions to give the enemy battle *. 
fhi Jifp9' The Romans, in order either to engage the enemy by fea, 
Jttton of or make a defcent upon their territories in Africa, had taken 
tkiir JUitu on board their -gallies fhe very flower of their land-forces. 
The grand fquadron con fitted of four divifions, the firft of 
which was called the firft legion, arid'the fifft fleet. The 
fecond and third in like manner received a denomination 
from their order ; but the fourth was diftingui(hed by the 
name of triarians, a term peculiarly applied to a certain or- 
der of foldiers, who were always the cholceft troops, and 
formed the corps de referve amongft the Romans. Each 
galley contained three hundred rowers, and a hundred and 
twenty foldiers ; fo that the whole united* force amounted 
to near a hundred and forty thoufand men. The firft divi- 
fion was Rationed on the right, and the fecond on the left, 
and the third in the rear of the other two, in fuch a man- 
ner as to form a triangle, the vertex of which was compof- 
ed of the two admiral gallies, wherein were the confuls, 
placed in the front of their refpe£^iveTquadron$. The tria- 
jrians were drawn up in the rear of the whole fleet, parallel 
to the third legion, the bafe of the aforefaid triangle, but 
cxtendin^g beyond the two angles. The tranfports, with the 
horfe and baggage on board, lay between the third diviCon 
and the triarians, this being judged the heft fituation for 
them to be covered from any attacks of the enemy- Tbe 
combined naval and land-forces of the Carthaginians muft, 
according o Polybius, have exceeded that of the Romans; 
fince he infinuates, that their troops, including the feapien, 
amounted to a hundred and fifty thoufand men. When the 
Carthaginians had obferved the difpofition.of the Roman 

« Polj^b. & Eutrop. ubi fup.Dk) Qafli infixcerptis Valefii, 

f(|uadroP) 

V 



The Hiftcfy of the Carthaginians. 395 

fquadron, they immediately ranged their own in order of ^ 
battle. They divided it into four fmaikr fquadibns, which 
they drew up in one line. The three firft divifionSi poft- 
ed to the right, ftretcbed far into the fea, as though they 
had an intention t6 furround the Romans, pointing their 
prows direftly upon them 5 the fourth, lying to the left, 
kept clofe under ihore, being difpofed in the form of an 
outwork ortenaille. Hanno, who had met with fueh Ul 
fuccefs at Agrigentum, commanded on the right, with the 
light vefTels, that could attack and retreat with great agility, 
and row nimbly round the gallies of the Romans. Hamil- 
car, the Carthaginian admiral in the late aftion ofFTyndaris, 
had the left wing committed to his conduct, who, though 
he had the misfortune to be defeated, gave fufficient proofs 
of his merit and experience in this engagement ^ ^ 

The confuls, obferving the Carthaginian line to be very Yn of Fl. 
weak in the centre, vigoroufly attacked it in that part .with a *'^?,'|, 
their firft and fecond divifions. The Carthaginians, pur- . "^^ ''* 

fuant to the orders received from Hamilcar, retired with 1^ 

precipitation. By this feint they propofed to feparate that ThtCar- 
part of the Roman fleet, with which they were engaged, tkaginians 
from the other, not doubting but the Romans would pur*" ^j^r^'^^j 
fue them with great ardour, and thereby give their fleet an ^^ ^ ' 
opportunity of charging the remaining Roman diviGons 
with great advantage. Accordingly the RomsLQS, by their 
eagernefs in the purfuit, left their conforts expofed to the 
eflforts of the eriemy. .The Carthaginians that fled, imme- 
diately, upon a fignal given from Hamilcar's galley, tacked, 
and, with great bravery, made head againft their purfuers : , 

but, after a warm difpute, the Romans, notwith (landing 
the lightnefs and aflivity of the Carthaginian veflels, by the 
afEftance of their corvi, and other grappUhg inftruments, 
coming to a clofe engagement, and being animated by the 
example of their officers, who expofed themfelves as much 
as the meaneft foldiers, worded the enemy, obliging them 
ta fheer oiF. In the mean tipae Hanno fell with great fury 
upon the triarians, whilfl: that part of the Carthaginian fqua- 
dron, pofted on the left, attacked the tranfports, and the' 
third legion. Here were three fea-fights at once, which 
continued for fome hours with a prodigious efFu (ion of blood, 
fine, Hanno on one fide, and the fourth Carthaginian di- 
vifion on the other, reduced the triarians, tranfpoFts, and 
third legion, to the laft extremity, forced many of them on 
({lore, and would have totally ruined them, had they not 
\\ptn kept in awe by the corvi. At lad, Manlius returning 

f polyb. & Zonar. in Annal. ubi fu|). 

fron\ 



395 The Nifiory of the Carihagiftlans. 

from the chiLce of the Carthaginian fqnadron alreadjr roatedj 
and Regolus, with the fecond legion, adrancing to the re- 
lief of the criariansy the enemy were entirely defeated.. Xhc 
Romans loft only twenty-four gallie$.in this a£tion ; but the 
Carthaginians had thirty funk, and nxty^three taken by the 
vidors. After this battle, which happened near Heraclea 
Minoa, Hamilcar made propofals of peace to the Romans, 
chiefly with a defign to amufe the confuls, and divert tkem 
from the African expedition : but the Romanis reje£ling the 
terms, the war continued with as much fiercenefs as ever y 
and the confuls foon after failing for Africa with their 
whole fleet, and a powerful army on boards landed at Cly- 
pea without oppofition °. 
ne J?#- No words can exprcfs the confternation the Carthaginians 

mwij com- s^QYc in, upon advice of the Roman artny's landing in Africa. 
ra*^€i in They knew that the confuls might march to Carthage with- 
iffkm. out oppofition, and lay wafte all the fertile country as they 
advanced ; a circumftance which would reduce them to the 
greateft diftrefs. Zonaras relates, that the inhabitants of 
Clypea, or Clupea, werefeized with fuch impreflions of 
terror, that they abandoned the city at the approach of the 
Romans ; but, according to Polybius, that town fuftained a 
fiegc, though the Carthaginians not being in a condition to 
relieve it, the confuls, without any great efFufion of blood, 
made themfelves mafters of the place. The Romans, hav- 
ing left a ftrong garrifon in Clupea to fecure their (hipping* 
moved with the reft of their army nearer Carthage, and re- 
duced a great number of towns. They likewife plundered 
an infinity of villages, laid vaft numbers of villas in aflies, 
took above twenty thoufand prifonersi amongft whom were 
many Romans, that had fallen into the enemy's hands. In 
fliort, having fcoured all the country almoft to the gates of 
Carthage, they returned to Clypea, loaden with an im- 
menfe booty acquired in this expedition ^. 
Kf^ufuj The Carthaginians foon after received intelligence, that 

U'wVrds '^^"^^"S was fet out for Rome with the greater part of the 
Cmrihage. ^^oops, and had left Regulus with only forty (hips, fifteen 
thoufand foot, and five hundred borfe, to carry on the war 
in Africa. They now began to recover from the terrible 
fright they were thrown into by this invafion, and made 
proper difpofitions for their defence. They difpatched an 
exprefs to Hamilcar, then at Heraclea, to return with all 
. ; poffiblc expedition. Hamilcar, in a (hort time, arrived at 

Carthage, with a reinforcement of five thoufand foot and 

tt Polyb, Liv. Flor. Eutrop. Zonar. Lucius Am pel. ubi fupra. 
Orof. lib. iv. cap. 7. w Idem ibid. & Eutrop. ubi iup. Appian. 
in Libyc. fub init. Paul, Orof. lib, iv. 

five 



The Htfioty of the Carthaginans. ^^j 

five hundred horfe, ^nd was joined with Afidrubal and Bof* 
tar in the command of the army* The firft obje£t of their 
confuitauons was how to prevent the incurfions of the Ro« 
Bian$, at leaft, if iK)t to diilodge them from the provinces 
ivberein the capital of Africa was feated. For this purpo£e» 
it was found rcquifite to take the field, and not wait in their 
cities anjr longer fcM: the enemy. Regulus, who had taken 
up bis winter-quarters at Clypea) committed great ravages 
along the fea-coafts* and even penetrated into the very heart 
of (he country : but hearing that the Carthaginian army waa 
in motion, he likewife made a movement with his forcesj 
and encamped upon the Bragada, in the neighbourhood of 
Carthage. Here with his battering engines he flew a fer- 
pent of a prodigious fize, which, if i^lius Tubero may bo 
believed, found employnient for the whole Roman army* 
The Roman hiftorians have undpubtedly given us an hy- 
perbolic defcription of this monfter, and the efFe£i:s it pro*« % 
duced : but confidering that Livy ', Valerius Maximus* 
^litts Tubero, Pliny, Zonaras, and others, agree in their 
accounts of it, we cannot help thinking, that, the Romans 
really killed a ferpent of an enormous fize at the place 
where they now encamped. Nor will this be deemed im« 
probable, when we confider, that dragons or ferpents im- 
meiifely large were common in Mauritania, Numidia, Li* 
bya, and Ethiopia. 

Hamilcar and his colleagues, receiving advice of the Ro- Yr. of Ft, 
man general's approach, and of his having formed the fiege a *^%^ 
of Adis, or Adda, a fortrefs of great co^fequence to Car- ,a!^ 
thage, advanced at the head of their forces to s^ttack him. * ^ 
Upon their arrival in the neighbourhood of Adda, they en- Jbuidtf4^» 
casaped upon fome height;s covered with woods, which was M/ Cor* 
a capital error, and occafioned the defeat of their army 5 for, 'A^ffwM** 
by negleding the plains, and taking poll: in rough and im- 
prai£ticable places, they rendered their elephants and ca* 
vaJry, in which their principal ftrength confifled^ incapable 
of a^ing. The Romans, taking advantage of this miftake,, 
ixamediateiy afiaulted them with the utmoft fury. The at«' 
tack» which happened in the night, was fo fudden and no* 
expeOed, that many of the Carthaginians hadtbeir throats 
cut while they were afleep, and others Iqft their lives before 
they could get their arms to defend themfelves. However^^ 
the Spaniih and Gallic mercenaries in the Carthaginian fer-^ 
vke behaved with great bravery, and not only repulfed the 

«Liv. Epit.. lib. xvUi. Val. Max. lib. i. cap. S. Ml Tuber, 
apud Auh Oeli. in No^. Attic, lib. vi. cap. 3. Pfin. Nat. Hift. lib. 
viii. cap. 14.. Zonar. ubi fup. cap. 13* Senec. de Clement. Jib. i. 
cap. t$* Flor. ubi £up. 

firft 



3^8 ^he Hiftoty of the Carihaginiani. 

firft legion, but drove them to their camp : but Regular 
having, at the beginning of the a£tion, ordered a detach- 
ment to wheel, and attack the enemy's rear, they were 
thrown into confufion, and at lad forced to abandon their 
camp. A great part of the infantry periftied, the Romans 
very clofcly purfiiing them, having guarded many of the 
defiles ; though mod of the elephants and cavalry made their 
cfcape. The Carthaginians loft feventeen thoufand men in 
the battle and purfuit. Eighteen elephants were alfo taken, 
five thoufand men made prifoners, and the reft difperfed* 
, Regulus, after this aftion, burnt all the open places, and 

reduced (he fortified towns. Some authors aflure us, that 
he took above two hundred cities. But as this account 
feems rather to refer to the whole number of places plun- 
dered or reduced fince the firft defccnt, we (hall follow Eu- 
tropius, who relates, that the conful conquered feventy- 
three towns. Utica, among the reft, was forced to fub- 
mit, and Tunes, within nine miles of Carthage, foon 
experienced the fame fate. In fliort, nothing now remain- 
ed but to bcfiege Carthage itfelf y. 
TfieNumi' To complete the misfortunes .qf the Carthaginians, the 
diansde- Numidians, a fort of Tartars, or at leaft in their manners 
^'''7-^* and way of life refembling that people, entered the territo- 
^artAaei* ^^^^ ^^ Carthage, where they committed dreadful devafta^ 
nioMj. tions. Thefc concomitant difafters rendered a famine at 
Carthage almoft inevitable i efpecially as the produce of the 
earth had been, in a great meafure, deftroyed, partly by 
Regulus, and partly by the Numidians. 
Jtigmlus The African nations likewife more immediately fubjed: 

m€tki3pr9* to Carthage, being weary of the Carthaginian yoke, declar- 
'^^-'^/' ed^ for the Romans, who now carried every thing before 
Cartkaji- ^^^V^* This fuccefs induced Regulus to believe, that the 
mam* Carthaginians would conclude a peace with him upon any 
conditions. He therefore, according to Polybius, ofitrea 
to treat about a peace, being afraid, that his fucceflor would 
rob him of the glory he had acquired, by putdng an end to 
the prefent war; though Zonaras tells us, that the Cartha- 
ginians themfelvcs' made the firft overtures. Be that as it 
may, the terms Regulus prefcribed were fo intolerable, that 
the Carthaginians refolved to fuffer all extremities rather 
than fubmit. As Regulus had met with an uninterrupted 
courfe of profperity from the beginning of his confulfhip, he 
fet no bounds to his arrogance; And the Romans in gene- 
ral being of the fame difpofition, from the great fuccefs that 
attended their arms> both by fea and land, it is not furprifing 

r Polyb. Applan. Zonar. £utrop, Flor. Aurel. Vi£l, Orof. ublfup* 

* that 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians. j59 

that the Carthaginians were treated in fo imperious a man- 
ner. Regulus wrote to the fenate, that the Carthaginians 
wera upon the brink of ruin, and that be had taken care to 
** feal up their gates with fear.'* All hopes therefore of an 
accommodation vaniflbing, both fides refolved to refer the 
decifion of the points at prefent in difpute to the fword. A / 

certain author writes, that the whole number of prifoners 
taken by the Romans, from their firft arrival in Africa to 
this time, including thofe who fell into their hands in the 
late battle, amounted to two hundred thoufand. All the 
riches and valuable efFefts found in the Carthaginian camp 
after tke laft aftion, Regulus fcnt on board fome tranfports 
to Rome; and,, having defolated - the adjacent country, 
advanced at the head of his viftorious troops to the 
ftagnum, or great morafs, on which Carthage ftood. 
Here, immediately after the rejeftion of his propofals, 
lie encamped, refolving to atta9k the capital of the Afiican 
republic *. 

Whilft matters remained in this fituation, a Carthaginian Xatitippus^ 
officer, who had been fent to Greece, to levy foldiers, re- with a body 
turned with a number of Greek mercenaries. This body ^f ^^^'^ 
was commanded by Xantippus the Lacedsemoniati, a perfon ^i^f^^l 
of great bravery and military fkill, who had learned the rives at 
art of war in the fchool of Sparta, then the moft renowned Carthagt. 
in the world, for the famous generals it produced. As foon 
as he had informed himfelf wherein the (Irength of the 
Carthaginian forces lay, he immediately attributed the late 
defeat to the falfe ftcp taken by their generals, when they 
chofe a fpot of ground where their cavalry and elephants 
couM not a£t; and declared that,. by an oppofite condudt, 
they might ftill retrieve their affairs, and drive the enemy 
out of their dominions. Being prevailed upon by the Car* 
" tbaginian fenate, people, Hamilcar, and all the other offi- 
cers, to aiTunfe the command of their forces, he taught 
diem to form all the evolutions and movements of the nuli« 
tary art, according to the Lacedaemonian manner. As no- 
thing iufpires foldiers with a greater degree of courage than 
a perfuafion of their general's abilities, the Carthaginian 
troops, who were before fo greatly difpirired, now thought 
^emfelves invincible under the condudi of Xantippus, ob- 
fcrving how vaftly he excelled their own generals in the 
military art. As he judged it improper to permit their ar- 
dour to cool, he drew them up in order of battle in a large 
plain before the city, and boldly advanced towards the Ro- 

s Appian. Palyb. OroH Eutrop* Zonar. Diod. Sic. Aur. Vi£^« 
Flon ubi fup. 

mans* 



40Q 



And de- 
feats the 
JUmaMS* 



ne Car- 
thaginians 
treat all 
the Roman 
prijoners 
wtth great 
humanity^ 
except Re» 
gulus* 



The Hijhty of the Carthaginians. 

mane* We liav< airetdy, in a former part of this wotl^, 
ckfcribed the difpo&tion of both armiesy and giren an ac- 
count of the principal incidents previous to the engage* 
mem. To which we. (haU beg leave to add here^ that Xan* 
tippuS) being within twelve hundred and fifty paces of the 
eneniy, called a council of war, in order to ibew a refped 
and deference to the Carthaginian commanders } and that 
thefe concurring in opinion with the Lacedaemonian, it was 
refolved to give the enemy battle the day following '. 

The Romans were much fupprifed at the motions of the 
Carthaginian army> and the new form of difcipiine intro* 
duced amongd tbem. However, they afiefted to treat both 
them and Xantippus with great contempt. But as the lofs 
of the late battle wasjuflly imputed to a want of military 
fkiU in the Carthaginian generals ; fo the defeat received 
i}ow by the Romans ought to be afcribed to the bad conduft 
of Reg^lus ; for this general, elated with his former fue« 
cefs, fatigued his men, expofed them to the enemy's parties,, 
pofted oti emine;ieies to annoy them with miffive weapons 
in their march ; and, finally, pafled a river parting the 
tM^o armies, by which means he cut off a retreat, in cafe 
any misfortune fbould happen. This mtfcondia£k of Regu< 
lus proved the total ruin of his army ; for Xaotippirs bf 
this motion gained fuch an advantage over the caemy, that 
he entirely defeated tbem, and either put to the fword, or 
look prifoners, all» except two thoufand men, who broke 
his right wing, and made their efcape to Qypea. Of the 
Carthaginians eight hundred were flain in this a£tion: bat 
on tbe Roman fide oear thirteen thoufand m«ft have fallen 
in the battle and purfuit, if Polyhius has given a juft acconnt 
of the forces Manlius> at his departure for Rome, left with 
Regulus. Xantippus took Regulus hin^felf, and five hun- 
dred of his men, prifoners in the purfuit, and immediatelf 
carricd*them to Carthage. According to Eutropius, thirty 
thoufand Romans loft their lives in thisr battle, and fifteea 
thoufand were deprived of their liberty ; but this oomptt*' 
tation cannot be admitted, except we fuppofe, that Regu^ 
lus had either reoeixed a ftrong reinforcement from Roane 
fince the departure of his colleague, or hcen joined by a 
large body of Africans in tbe interval betwixt that cvcii 
and the battle ; neither of which fuppofitions receives tbe 
leaft countenance from Polybius **. \ 

The Carthaginians treated all the prifoners, except Be« 
gulus, with great humanity, hoping by this conduit to en« 

a Ai>pi3Q. in Libyc« fub ifnit. Polyb. Liv. Zodar. Flor, Entrap* 
Orof. &c. ubi fup, «> Vicfc Aurcl. Vift. in At. Re$g. 40. 

gage 



The Hjfiory of the Carthaginians. 401 

gage the Romans to behave with lenity to the Carthaginian ^ 

captives in their hands : but Regulus had ib. infultied them 
in his profperity, that they could not forbear fliewing him 
the greateft marks of their refentment on this occafion. Ac-« 
cording to Zonaras and others, he was thrown into a dun- 
geon, where 4ie had only fuftenance allowed barely fufii-- 
cient to keep him alive : and his cruel mafters, to heighten 
his other torments* ordered an huge elephant, at the fight 
of which animal) it feems, he was greatly terrified, to be 
f onftantly placed near him ; a companion which prevented 
him from enjoying any tranquility or repofe, and rendered 
his life a burden. When he prefcribed difhonourable term? 
of peace to the Carthaginians, he pretended^ with unpa- 
ralleled haughtinefs, that every thing he fuffered them to 
pofTefs ought to be efteemed a favour: to which declara- 
tion he added this farther infult, ** that they ought either to 
overcome like brave men, or learn to fubmit to the vidlor.* 
No wonder, therefore, that fo harfh and contemptuous a 
treatnvsnt fhould incenfe a nation naturally proud, as well 
as cruel and implacable, and even force their interefl itfelf 
to give way to their refentment. Zonaras intimates, that 
Regulus fuffered himfelf to be furprifed by Xantippus, hot 
believing that he would have the courage to attack liim. 
However, as the Carthaginian army did not confift df 
above fixteen thoufand men, befides the elephants, this 
ought to be eftcemed a- mofl wonderful viftory, efpecially ' 
confidering the heroic valour of the Roman legions, ft 
muft therefore, as Frontinus rightly obferves, be almoft en- 
tirely attributed to the conduft and bravery of Xantippus *. 

The Carthaginians remained on the field of battle till Great rim* 
they had ftripped the flain, and then entered their metro- joicingi at 
polis, which was almofl the only place left them, in tri* ^^^'^^S^» 
umph. The citizens immediately repaired to the temples ^%'iT^ 
in crouds, to return thanks to the immortal gods for fo fig- ntiBory^ 
pal a viftory ; and hung up in thefe temples, as trophies, 
the arms taken from the enemy. Several days were devot- 
ed wholly to feflivity and rejoicings, a fpirit of joy and 
gladnefs diffufing itfelf over the whole city. However, ac- 
j:ording to fome authors, they not only foon forgot the great 
obligations they were under to Xantippus, but even fh^wed 
themfelves guilty of fhocking ingratitude to him, as well as 
to the whole body of mercenaries, ,who had delivered them 
from certain ruin. If thefe writers may be credited, they 

« Zonar. ubi fiip. cap. 13. p 391, 39a. S. Jul. Front, Strat. Hb.i1. 
<ap» 3« iCK. to. Diod. Sic. lib* xxiii. ubi iup. Val. Max. lib. i. 
cap. I. , 

Vol. XV. D d • cither 



•40a The Hijioty of the Carthagitiians. 

either afiually deftroyed Xantippus, or attempted his de« 
ftru£lion ; and not only refufed paying the mercenaries their 
arrears^ but ordered the captains of the vcfTels, who were 
to carry them home, to leave them expofed on a defolate 
ifland. Thefe horrid inftances of Carthaginiaii ingratitude, 
are attefted by fome authors ; yet at the fame time we 
think it our duty to obferve, that their authority,, in the 
point be/ore us, is not to be entirely depended upon. Be- 
fides, Polybiusy the bed author extant, who has treated o{ 
this particular branch of hiftory, fays not a word of it. LxTf 
alfo^ if we may judge of him from his epitomizcr, paflesit 
over in filence, as do Florus and Eutropius. Thefe Roman 
hiftorians would mod certainly have tak^n the greateil plea- 
fure in relating fuch a ftory, if founded on authority, as re- 
fle£ling an eternal fhame and diihonour upon their mod 
avowed and inveterate enemies, whom they never failed to 
treat with the utmoft freedom on all occafionS' We think 
it therefore but equitable to fufpend our belief of what Ap- 
pian and Zonaras have affirmed with regard to the departure 
of Xantippus. 

We have, in a former part of this work,, given a full ac- 
count of what happened to Regulus in the fubfequent partof 
his life, and cenfured Hoffman for differing from a great 
number of Roman authors in this particular. 
Botk thi The Carthaginians, forgetting all former misfortunes, be* 
Carthagu gan to talk in a very high (Irain, threatening even Italy it- 
«M«j Mtd felf with an invafion. The Romans, being informed of this, 
ms^miei P^^^ed ftrong garrifons in the maritime towns, that lay moft 
wirA ma>iy expofed, and equipped a fleet, not only to prevent theene- 
difi^trs* my from executing the defign they had formed, but alfo 
to retrieve their affairs in Africa. In the mean time 
the Carthaginians befieged Clypea and Utica in vain, being 
obliged to retire from before thofe places at the approach 
of the Roman fquadron, which had already plundered the 
ifland of Cofyra, and left a garrifon for its defence. How- 
ever, they recovered the towns on the frontiers of Numidia, 
which had revolted ; but could not fo eafily regain thofe oh 
the fea-fliore. Having equipped a fleet of two hundred fail, 
they put to fea, in order to prevent the enemy from making 
a fecond defqent; and engaged them off Cape Hermea: 
but being routed, the Romans landed without oppoGtionat 
Clypea, defeated the Carthaginians in a pitched battle near 
that place; and, carrying off the remains of Regulus's armyi 
fteered for Sicily. Notwith (landing thefe viftories, the Ro- 
mans were greatly weakened. In their paffage to Sicily) 
they fufFerc4 fo dreadful a tempeft, that out of three hai^ 
dred and feventy veffcls, of which their fleet was compofcdi 

cigbty 



She Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 4^3 

eighty only efcaped. Diodorus Siculus fays, they loft three 
hundred and forty gallies, befides about three hundred tran* 
fports. Eutropius affirms only eighty gallies remained out 
of four hundred and fixty-four ; infomuch that all the fea- 
coafts> from Camarina to Pachynum, were ftrewed with 
the dead bodies of men and hories, as well as the wrecks 
of fhips. Immediately after this difafter, Carthalo, a Car- 
thaginian commander, advancing to Agrigentumi foon 
made himfelf mafter of the place. The town he laid in 
aOies, and demolifhed the walls, obliging the inhabitants 
to fly to Olympieum. The Carthaginians, apprifed of this 
fuccefs, immediately fent Afdrubal to Sicily, with a large 
reinforcement of troops, and a hundred and fifty elephants. 
They likewife fitted out a fquadron, with which they retook 
the ifland of Cofyra ; and though they had loft nine thou- 
fand men in the laft a£lion, befides fifteen thoufand in the 
naval engagement, they detached a ftrong body of forces, 
under the command of Hamilcar, into Mauritania and Nu* 
midia, to puniih the people of thofe countries for (hewing 
a difpofition to join the Romans. Hamilcar treated them 
with the utmoft rigour and feverity, caufing their chiefs to 
be crucified, putting great ^ numbers of the poorer fort to 
the fword, and exading from the reft a thoufand talents of 
filver, befides twenty thoufand head of cattle. In Sicily the 
confuls got pofieffion of Cephalcedium by treachery ; but 
Carthalo forced them to raife the fiege ot Depranum, and 
retire with great lofs. The Carthaginians, however, foon 
after found themfelves obliged to abandon letae, as likewife 
the territories of the Selinuntines, Petrinians, £nnattarini- 
ans, and Tyndarites. The Romans, landing afterwards an 
army in Sicily, befieged Panormus, the capital of the Car- 
thaginian dominions in Sicily ; and at laft ftarved it to a 
furrender. The Carthaginian fleet, pofted to obferve the 
enemy's motions, fell in with one of their fquadrons, and 
carried ofi^ many of their fliips laden with mpney, and other 
valuable efl^e£ts. fioth parties foon after terminated the 
operations of the campaign, the confuls returning toRome, 
and the Carthaginians retiring into winter-quarters : fo that 
we hear of no hoftilities betwixt them till the following 
fpring •*. 

The prodigious loflTes which the Romans had fuftained on nt Car- 
that element, made them entertain thoughts of declining thaginiMs 
all preparations for the future againft the Carthaginians, ^''•^'•y 
Next year, lofing a hundred and fixty gallies more on the ^^'J/^^. 

d Diodor. Sicul. lib. xxtii. in Excerpt. Rhodoman. & Hotrcfael. 
Polyb. ubi fupra. Zonar. ubi fupra, cap. 14. Orot lib. iv« cap. 9* 
£utrop. lib. ii. 

* • D d a coafts 



^04 ^^ Hiftary cf the Carthaginians. 

xoafts of Sicily* they came to a refolution to lay afide a^U 
naval operations* and confeqaently left the Carthaginian^ 
mailers of the fea« This was not their only misfortune i 
for, in the late battle with Regulus* the elephants had made 
fucb havocki that, for the two fucceeding years* the Ro* 
man foldiers in Sicily durft not approach thefe furious ani- 
mals. This circumftance prevented the war from being 
carried on with vigour during that term. The Romans* 
however, wrefted Lipara, Himera, and Thermae,, out of the 
hands of the Carthaginians ; but were obliged to raife the 
fiege of £r£la» So flow a progrefs induced them to attempt 
making a figure once more by fea, hoping on this element 
to compenfate for the terror with which the elephants had 
ijkruck their legions *• 
Afdruhal AfdrubaU the Carthaginian general in Sicily* perceiving 
9ver- the Romans were afraid of his elephants, marched oat oJF 
thro^vn by Lilybseum, and advanced into the neighbourhood of Pa- 
MitilUu. xiormus* in order to draw the enemy to a battle. Mctellus* 
who commanded the Roman forces in the town, feemed to 
be intimidated at the Carthaginian, till he had pafled the 
river Orethus* when, having him at an advantage, he at-^ 
tacked him with incredible fury. The fight was very ob- 
ftinate for fome time, and the Romans were even repulfed 
by the violence of the elephants : but at laft the dartmen 
wounded thefe animals in fuch a manner* that they fell 
back upon their own troops, and threw them into confu* 
lion. This being obfefved by the Roman general, he fal* 
lied with a body of frefli forces out of the town, and, at- 
tacking the enemy in flank, defeated them entirely. The 
Carthaginians loft many men in this adion, it being 
one of the greatefl: defeats they ever received in Sicily, 
befides many elephants, which were either killed or taken, 
mnd amongft the reft ten with their Indian leaders. The 
Carthaginian elephants could never after this battle make 
any impreflion upon the Roman troops \ on which account 
the vidlory muft juftly be confidered as of great con fequence 
to them. According to Zonaras, the Carthaginian fleet, 
b«:ing then in port, completed the ruin of the land-forces j 
for numbers of AfdrubaKs foldiers, endeavouring to make 
their el'cape on board the gallics, fell into the fea, and were 
drowned. Diodorus intimates, that. Afdrubal was com- 
pelled by his own troops to venture an engagement with the 
enemy ; that, advancing to Panormus, he paflTed the river 
Orethus with great temerity ; and that fome merchants hav- 
ing brought a large quantity of wine into the camp, the 

• Liv. Zonar. £>iodor. Sicul. Polyb. & Orof. ubi fupra. 

Ccltcs 



ne Hifiofy of the Carthaginiami 405 

Celtes drank of it to intoxicationi filling all parts with noifCf 
diforder, and confufion ^ which being obferved by Metel- 
lus, he (allied from the town, put the Carthaginian armjr 
to the roue, and either killed or took prifoners a great- num- 
ber of troops. Sixty elephants, according to the fame au«- 
thor, that fell into tne hands of the Romans, were fent (o 
Rome as a great curioGty. It^ will not be improper to re- 
mark, that this exploit happened in the fourteenth year of 
the firft Punic war. 

Soon after this aftion tfie Carthaginians received intelli- ^^^ ^^ 
gcnce that the Romans intended to form the ficge of Lily- ^^^'j^J 
baeum, imagining that the reduftion of that place would '^^^'^,'''' 
fini(h this tedious and bloody war. As they thought the 
prcfervation of Lilybaeum, which was !the only city they 
now pofleflcd in Sicily, except Drepanum, to be of the ut- 
moft confequence to their affairs, they reinforced the gar* 
rifon with a large body of chofen troops, and ftrengthencd 
the fortifications in fuch a manner, as to render the plac/s 
almoft impregnable.. Neverthelefs, the two confuls, Man- 
lius and Attilius^ invefted it, and after having opened their 
trenches, carVied on the fiege with great vigour. The Car- 
.thaginians, fome time before the beginning of the fiege, had 
rafed the city of Selinus, and tranfplanted the inhabitants to 
Lilybaeum ; fo that this laft place was very populous When 
the Roman army appeared before it. The garfifon was 
commanded by Himilco, an ofiicer of great conduft and 
bravery Though the Romans foon demolifhed feveral of 
the outworks, and even made their approaches to the i)ody 
of the place, yet Himilco defended it with uncommon in- 
tvcpidity and refolution. He vifited every part of the town, 
to give the necefiary orders, prevent confufion, and animate « 
the troops, as well as the citizens, by his prefence. He 
alfo made frequent as well as vigorous fallies upon the bc- 
fiegers. Nor did the attempts of the Romans to undermine 
the walls of Lilybaeum meet with any great fuccefs ^ 

But what the Romans could not effedl by force they at- The merct" 
tempted to accomplifh by treachery. They fo far corrupted varies en^ 
fome of the leaders of the mercenaries, who had efcaped '''"'*'«« 
the vigilance of the centinels, and come to the camp of one J^^w^^? 
of the confuls, that thofe traitors engaged to deliver the the place 
place into their hands. This treachery would have proved into th$ 
fatal to the Carthaginians, had not Alexon, an Achai^n, dif- ^f*^^ ^f 
covered the whole confpiracy to Himilco ; who, aflembling 
all the remaining mercenary oflicers, acquainted them with 

' Diord. Sic. lib. xxiv. iii Excerpt. Rhodoman. Polyb. lib. i. Liv. 
£pi(. lib. xix. Orof. nbi fupra, cap. 10. Zonar. ubi fupra/cap. 15. 

D d 3 the 



thi R0^ 
mans. 



i|o6 The Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 

the particulars of the horrid deGgn, and, by his (irtgularad- 
dred) engaged them to perfevere in their fidelity to the 
Carthaginians. Having fecured this point, he prevailed 
upon them next to infpire the foldiers under their command 
with the fame fentiments. He likewife fent Hannibal to 
keep the Gauls, who greatly cfteemed him, firm in the 
Carthaginian intercft ; whilft Alexon employed his influ- 
ence to hinder tKe Greeks, amongft'whom he was extremely 
beloved, from entering into the enemy's meafures. Thefe 
falutary precautions had the defired effe£l. The mercenary 
chiefs returning foon after from the Roman camp, found 
their men fo far from liftening to their, fuggeftions, that 
they themfelves were driven out of the place with the utmoft 
fury. According to Zonaras, it was the length of the fiege, 
and a want of pay, that induced the mercenaries to enter- 
tain thoughts of betraying the city to the Romans. Of which 
diffatisfaftion Himilco being apprifed, he paid the ofEcers 
their arrears, and appeafed the minds of the foldiery by 
large promifes, which extinguiflied all the fparks of dif- 
content and fedition. This impending ftorm being blown 
over, Himilco rewarded Alexon for his fidelity, and conti- 
nued his fallies upon the Romans with the ufual fuccefs^. 
Tkigarri- The Carthaginians, concluding that the garrifon of Lily- 
finri€efi/es bsBum wanted a reinforcement, fent Hannibal, the fon of 
a rein- Hamilcar, to their affiftance, with a body of ten thoufand 
efientAou' "^^"> ^"^ ^ confiderable fupply of frefli provifions.' That 
/ami men commander made his way through the enemy's gallies, and 
/rpm Car' arrived in the port of Lilybaeum. After fome ftay he pafled 
ihagii in the night by the enemy's camp to Drepanum, and had a 
conference with Adhcrbal, the Carthaginian commandant 
in that place; but what this turned upon we are not inform- 
ed by any of the ancient hiftorians ^. 
and burn All communication betwixt Lilybaeum and the other Car- 
** ^/^^ thaginian territories being foon after cut off, the garrifon 
\rs batter- ^^^ almoft reduced to extremity; but at laft a ftorm arofe, 
ingen- which broke and rendered ufelefs all the Roman battering 
giaes^ engines, and overturned many of the towers they had ereft- 
ed to facilitate the redu£lion of the town. This unexpcded 
accident induced the Greek troops in garrifon to attempt 
the deftruflion of the machines that efcaped the fury of the 
tempeft ; which they eafily efFefted, and put a great num- 
ber of Roman§ to the fword. The confuls, upon this ter- 
rible blow, defifted from the attack of the town, turning 
the fiege into a blockade, and drawing a line round the 

% PbJyb. & Zonar, ubi fupra. ^ Polyb. Died. Sic. Liv. OroC 

ubi fupra. 

placCi 



I 

The Hiftdty of the Carthaginians. ' 407 

place, to prevent any fuccours being thrown in. The be- 
fieged, on the other hand, repaired all the breaches made 
by the enemy, ftrengthened the fortifications with new 
works, and determined to defend the town to the laft ex- 
tremity. 

Next year Claudius the confol put to fea with a powerful CUukSus 
fl^et, in order to furprife Drepanum ; but he was vanquiflied '*'^^ , 
by Adherbal, the Carthaginian admiral, an officer of great jm^ fi^i 
condu£); and bravery. Claudius, with thirty vefTels, efcap* f„ aftm* 
edout of the fight to the camp at Lilybaeum, bringing the fight. 
confuls intelligence of his defeat ; which was the greateft ^ 
defeat the Romans had received by fea fince the commence- 
ment of this war ^ 

As the Romans had amafled a vaft quantity of provifions Vr. of Fl« 
on board their fleet, Adherbal furniihed Lilybaeum with a aiix. 
plentiful fupply, and filled all his magazines at Drepanum. Ante Chr. 
The Carthaginians, at this junfturc, by ravaging the coafis *^^* 
of Italy and Sicily, reduced the natives to extreme poverty, q^^^ij^^ 
Soon after Hanno, a Carthaginian officer, in a quinque- oceafionsa 
reme, fell into the hands of Junius the conful, as he was mutiny in 
fteering with a' fquadron for Lilybaeum. However, thisl6fs thCartAa* 
was foon repaired ; for Adherbal, detaching Carthalo with a S*"*^ 
hundred gallics, to obferve the Roman fleet fent to the relief f^f^/aUiJ. 
of the camp before Lilybaeum, gained feveral advantages, 
and at laft had the fatisfaftion of feeing them totally de- 
ftroyed by a ftorm. Befides other places Catthalo reduced 
a ftrong fort ere£ted at ^githallus, a town near the foot of 
Mount Eryx. Notwithftanding all the lofl'es the Romans 
had fuftained, they continued the blockade of Lilybaei|m 
with invincible fortitude, cantoning all their troops in the 
neighbourhood, determined, if poffiblc, to carry the place. 
Carthalo, by fome indifcreet a£lions, became fo unpopular 
amongft the troops, that he had like to have occafioned an 
univerfal defection ; a circumftance which obliged the Car- 
thaginians to recall him, and appoint Hamilcar, furnamed 
Barcas, general of their forces. This extraordinary pcrfon, 
by his future conduct: both in Sicily, Africa, and Spain, de- 
monftrated himfelf to be the greateft commander who, had 
hitherto appeared at the head of the Carthaginian armies ^, 

At this time the Carthaginians were engaged in a war 
upon the continent of Africa, as well as in Sicily : for, ac- 
cording to Diodorus Siculus, Hanno, a Carthaginian com« 
mander, entered Libya at the liead of a powerful army, 

^ Eutrop. lib. ii. Flor. lib. iii cap. %, Tub fin. Val. Max. lib. Leap. 
4. ex. 3. & lib. viii. cap. i. ex.4. ^Polyb. Diod. Sic. Liv. 

Fion Eutrop. OroC Zonar. ubi fup. Val. Max. lib* i. cap. 4. ex. 3. 

D d 4 took 



4o6 



Hamikar 
lattits in 

Sicily, and 
makes fe- 
n^eralmo* 
tioajm 



Ntithtr 

Jidt can 

force the 

§ther to a 

haitle. . 



The Hyivry of the Carthaginians. 

took tlie city called Hecatompylos, and carried off three 
tboufand faoftages to Carthage. 

Hamilcar receiving a difcretionary fK>wer Irom the fenate 
to 2i& as he fliould tbihklit for the fervi/ce of the tepuUic, 
failed from Carthage in the eighteenth year of this war. 
According to Cornelius Nepos, he was but a youth when 
he took upon him the command of the army^ a circum- 
ftance whicky confidering the bad (ituation of the Cartha- 
ginian affairS) adds great luftre to his firft gallant atchieve^ 
jnents. Having piit to death all the ringleaders of the late 
mutineers, he ravaged the coafts of the Locrians and Bru^ 
tians, and then made a defcent nearPanormus with all,hi$ 
forces. Upon his landing he marked out a camp betwixt 
• Panormus and Eryx ; which was of itfelf a fu£Bcient proof 
of his military genius, fince the fpot of ground chofen ap^ 
pears, from the defcription given by Polybius, to have 
beej^ the mod commodious for the end propofed that 
could poffibly be conceived. Soon after his encampment 
ke detached fome gallies, with a body of land-forces on 
board, to pillage the Roman allies. Thefe executed their 
orders With great fe verity, making excuHions as far as Cu- 
ln«, and dcfoiating the country as they advanced. Upon 
their return he marched with his army to the walls* of Pa- 
normus, though the enemy lay encamped but eight hun- 
dred paces from that city, and afterwards returned to his 
former camp. For fome time the generals on both fides made 
it their whole bufinefs to obferve the motions of each other. 
In (hon, by marched and countermarches, by rencounters 
'and ambufcades, by military feints and ftratagen^s of all 
kinds, Hamilcar and the confuls drove who fhould fhew 
the greateft fkill and dexterity. This condufk greatly fa- 
. tigued the foldiers, though it enured them to military difci- 
pline, and formed them foraftion in the moftperfeft manner. 
Both the Carthaginian and Roman camps were, by art 
and nature, rendered impregnable; fo that neither fide 
could force the other to a battle. The military operations, 
therefore, for a confiderable period of time, confided in 
rencounters betwi^it parties, who, on bo:h fides, behaved 
with great bravery. The fuccefs of thefe ikirmifhes was 
"various, fometimes one party being viftorious, and fome- 
times the other. The Carthaginians however in general, 
•from what we find in Polybius, . had the advantage, efpe- 
cially as Diodorus intimates, that Hamilcar took a cadle of 
confiderable drength in the territory of Catana, before he 
advanced to Eryx *. 



Folyb. 8c Diod. Sic. ubi fupra. 



Tfce 



fhe Hsfiofy of tht Cartba^nians. 4^6 

'tht Romans had, for fome time paft, defifted from all Th R§^ 
fiftval preparations, being deterred by the terrible diftfters mans equip 
they had fufiered at fea. . They had confined themfelves ^ prpva- 
wholly to a land-war, thinking their forces much more ^^'fi"^ 
than a match for thofe of Carthage. But now finding 
themfelves difappointed, by the excellent condti£b of Hamil^ 
car ; and that, inftead of carrying their point in Sicily, they 
were even themfelves reduced to great difficulties by the 
enemy, they began to think of annoying them again by fea. 
For this purpofe, a fleet was firft equipped by private per- 
fons. This fquadron of gallies was of confiderable force, 
and fitted out chiefly with a view of plundering the enemy's 
territories, and inuring the Romans to the tea, to which 
they were now, in a manner, ftrailgers. They com- 
mitted great depredations on the coails of Africa ; and, en- 
tering the port of Hippo, notwithftanding the citizens had 
endeavoured to prevent their entrance, by fecuring the 
mouth of the harbour with a large and ftrong chain, they 
laid the greateft part of the town, together with the (hiy- 
ping, in aflies. Having filled their veflTels with fpoils, they 
returned to Panormus, near vhich place they obtained a 
vidory over the enemy. In the mean time two confuls fe- 
parately^pulhed on the fieges of Lilybaeum and Drepanum. 
The Romans likewife diflodged the Carthaginians from the 
little ifland of Peliadis, or Columbaria; which Hamilcar in 
vain attempted to retake. Fabius, who carried on the fiege 
of Drepanum with incredible labour, afterwards joined this 
ifland to the continent 5 a work which greatly facilitated 
his approaches. Notwith (landing thefe advantages, the 
brave Hamilcar terribly haraflfed the enemy, not only mak- 
ing incurfions into the very heart of the ifland, but plun- > 
dering the coafts of Italy ". 

• About three years after Hamilcar's arrival in Sicily, he Yr. of FI. 
took Eryx by furprize. The town Vas fituated on the de- . aii6. 
clivity of a mountain of the fame name, and had fallen Ante Chr. 
again into the hands of the Romans fince the reduftion of *^*' 
it by Cartlialo. What rendered this aftion the more re- tjamiicar 
inarkable, was, that the Romans had not only a body of tahsEnx* 
troops in the town, but were likewife in poflfeflion both of 
the top and foot of the mountain, where they had forts de- 
fended by ftrong garrifons. By the poflTeflidn of this poll, 
the Romans on the fummit of thi mountain laboured under 
all the hardftiips and inconveniencies of a fiege. Notwith- 
ftanding which, they bore all their fatigues with wonderful 
patience, and behaved with incredible valour and refolution. 

n Flor. lib. ii« op. »• fub fin. Zonar. ubi fupra^ cap 16. 

Hamilcar 



410 



mams fa 
0mt amw 
pit. 



nvhhfi eft' 

lirely dt- 
ftat$ that 
tfthi Car- 
thaginians* 



The Hiftany of the Carthaginians. 

• 

Hamilcar maintained himfelf in the advantageous poft he 
had gained with equal bravery. However, as the Romans 
were mafters of the open countr jr, he found himfelf fome« 
times diftrefled for want of provifionS| and with great dif- 
ficulty preferved the avenue, keeping open a communica- 
tion with the fea, by means of which he, from time to time, 
received fupplies. Both (ides remained in this (ituation for 
the fpace of two years ; during which time the Romans 
continued the blockade of Lilybaeum \ 

In the confulate of C. Lutatius Catulus and A. Pofthu- 
mius, the Romans equipped a fleet of two hundred quin- 
queremes, at the expence of private perfons. The com- 
mand of this armament was given to Lutatius, with an in^ 
tention to ftrike a confiderable (troke, and force fortune to 
declare in favour of the Romans. In the fir (I place the 
conful feized the port of Drepanum, and all the other har- 
bours in the neighbourhood of Lilybaeum. Afterwards he 
exercifed his foldiers and feamen with the utmoil diligence, 
firmly believing, that a general adiion by fea'muft prove de- 
cifive. Soon after their entrance into the haven of Drepa- 
num, the Romans attempted to ilorm the town, and would 
have fucceeded in their attempt, had not the conful beea 
wounded. But this accident occaHoned fome confuGon, and 
gave the enemy an opportunity of repulfing them. Zona- 
ras obferves, that when the fleets on both fides were drawn 
up in order of battle off thq iflands called^gades, a blazing 
ftar or comet appeared, to the great terror of both parties ; 
but feemod to point dire£tly at the Carthaginians. Though 
the wind proved unfavourable to Lutatius when he came in 
fight of the enemy's fleets yet he refolved to attack them, 
fince he expe£led every moment to be joined by Hamilcar, 
whofe name was become terrible to the Romans. The 
Carthaginians, intending to make their laft effort by fea, 
had cojlefled their whole naval power, confiding of four 
hundred fail. Both fleets made the i^ecefTary difpofitions 
for an engagement, which was to determine the fate of 
Sicily •. 

Though the gallics, of which the Carthaginian, arma- 
ment was compofed, greatly exceeded thofe of the Romans 
in number, yet, in nriany refpe£ls, the Roman fquadron was 
much fuperior to the Carthaginian. For as the forces 
on board the latter confiftcd, for the moft part, of raw and 
undifciplined levies, Lutatius had taken care to man the 
former with choice troops, and able feamen; befides, as 

■ Polyb. Diod. Sicv Corn. Ncp. ubi fopra. • Polyb. Li v. Flor. 

Diod. Sic. ubi fupra. Zonar. ubi fupra, cap. 7. Eutrop. lib. ii. Orof* 
lib. iv. cap. 10. 

bis 



^he Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 41 1 

his vcflcls were built after the model of the galley taken 
from Hannibal the Rhodlan, in lightnefs and a£tivity they 
far excelled thofe of the enemy. To which confiderations 
we may add, that the Carthagipians held the naval power 
of the Komans in the higheft contempt, as having, for fome 
years, been mailers at fea. They, therefore, upon the fird 
advice of the enemy's motions, being greatly furprifed, put 
to fea a fleet fitted out in hafte, manned only with merce- 
naries, who had neither courage, experience, nor zeal for 
the flate, in whofe fervice they were engaged. Hanno 
therefore made but a faint refiftance, his forces being 
routed at the firfl attack. Florus fays, that the Carthagi* 
nian fleet was fo heavy laden with troops, baggage, arms, 
and provifions, that the whole city of Carthage feemed to 
have been on board, and that the vefTels could not move 
with any alertnefs 5 a circumflance which greatly contributed 
to Hanno's defeat. The lofs of the Carthaginians on this 
melancholy occafion is greatly exaggerated by Eutropius^ 
who affirms, that they had feventy-three (hips taken, a hun- 
dred and twenty-five funk, thirty-two thoufand men made 
prifoners, thirteen thoufand killed or drowned, and that an 
immenfe quantity of gold and filver fell into the hands of 
the vigors. Orofi us corroborates his account; but Poly* 
bills, who undoubtedly comes nearer the truth, maintains, 
that the Romans funk, only fifty of the Carthaginian vefTels, 
and took feventy with their crews, the refl efcaping to the 
ifle of Hiera. tutatius then advanced to the ciry of Eryx, 
ivhere engaging the Carthaginians, he cut off two thoufand 
men. This laft adlion concluded the operations of the firfl 
Puuic war p. \ 

The Romans, naturally infolent in profperity, were fo TJiis affhm 
elated with their vidlory, that Lutatius infifled upon H^^ Joilowe^ by 
milcar's delivering up his arms. But this haughty demand ^/^^^'* 
was rejefted with the fcorn and indignation it deferved. 
The conful, however, finding that Hamilcar was invefted 
with full powers to fign a treaty, did not pufh things to the 
lafl extremity. Being defirous of having the honour of put- 
ting a period to a war, which had coil both republics fuch 
an immenfe quantity of blood and treafure, before the ex- 
piration of his office he concluded a peace with that general, 
upon the terms already mentioned. But then this was done 
upon condition, that it fhould be ratified by the fenate and 
people of Rome % Zonaras intimates, that the fenate of 

P Orof. lib. iv. cap. lo. ut 8c Lucius Ampel. in lib. Memrial. 
cap. 46. q Polyb. Corn. Nep. Zonar ubi fupra. Alfenus Varus 
in lib. digeft. 34. & conjeftan. 2. apud Aul. Gdl. in Nod. Attic, 
lib. vi. cap, y Sc OxoL ubi fuprajCap, ii« 

CarthagQ 



j^l2 The Hi/lofy of tie Carthaginians. 

Carthage fent a deputation dire£lly td Lutatius to fue for 
peace ) but he rauft gire way to the fuperior authority of 
Polybius and Cornelius Nepos, who affirm, that Hamilcar 
Barcas had the management of the whole tranfa£tion. The 
people of Rome» elated with their unexpe£^ed fuccefs, and 
confidering the republic of Carthage as lying at their mercy, 
refufed to ratify the treaty, till they had fent ten deputies 
to Sicily, to inform themfelves of the fituation of aflairs. 
Thefe, in conjunQion with the conful, agreed to the ratifi- 
cation of it, upon condition the following additional articles 
fliould be inferted in it : i. The Carthaginians (hall add to 
. the fum already fpecified two hundred Euboic talents. 2. A 
thoufand Euboic talents (hall be paid immediately, upon the 
'ratification of the treaty ; and the remainder in ten years 
time. 3. The Carthaginians (hall not approach with their 
great (hips, either the coafts of Italy, or any territories be- 
longing to the allies of Rome. 4. They fliall not make le- 
▼lesy either in the dominions of the Romans, or thofe of 
their allies. 5. They (hall abandon all the little iflands be- 
tween Sicily and the coaft of Italy. As thefe rigid condi- 
tions were extorted from Hamilcar by the Romans, becaofe 
they found him not in a fituation to rcfufc them, he, from 
this moment, conceived an invincible averlion to that na- 
tion. In fine, he was determined to conclude a peace with 
them upon any terms, to give his country time to breathe, 
that he might have an opportunity of cliaftifing them in 
the fequel, for their unparalleled infolence through the 
whole courfe, and more particularly at the concljifion, of 
this war. 
^htlibj^H The Carthaginians were no fooner extricated out of*thrs 
***■""• bloody and expenfive war, than they found themfelves en- 

gaged in another, which had nearly proved fatal to the ftatc. 
The mercenary troops that had ferved under Hamilcar in , 
Sicily, and diftinguifhed themfelves greatly on all occafions, 
found Carthage fo exhaufted, that far from being able to 
give them the largefTes and rewards promifeil by Hamilcar, 
it could not pay them their arrears. This, with fome other 
concurring caufes, occafioned a war, which, for three. years 
and a half, preyed upon the very vitals of the republic, and 
was attended with, fuch inftances of cruelty as arc fcarce 
to be paralltied in hiftory. The ancient hiftorians call it 
the Libyan or African war, and fometimes the War with 
the Mercenaries. 

As foon as Hamilcar had concluded the treaty aborc 
mentioned, he retired, with the forces which were in Eryx, 
to Lilybaeum, and reCgned hiscommiflion, leaving to Gifco, 
the commandant of thatrplace, the care of tranfporting them 

to 



The Hifidry of the Carthaginians. 41 j 

to Africa. Gifco^ being an officer of great penetratSon^ ne mtr* 
forefeeing what would happen^ did not (hip them off all at cenary 
once, but in fmall and feparate detachments* that thofe ^^^opsof 
who came firft might be paid ofF, andfent home before the J^^ . f" 
arrival of the reft. The Carthaginians, however, did not grfath 
%0i with the fan^e forecaft and precaution. As they were dif^uftid* 
almoft entirely impoverifhed by the laft war, and the im* 
menfe fum of money paid to the Romans, they judged it 
would be a commendable adion to fave fomething^to the 
public, not confidering the injuftice, as well as imprudence 
of the meafure they were going to purfue. They therefore 
did not pay the mercenaries in proportion as they arrived, 
thinking it more proper to wait till they ihould be all affem- 
bled, with a view of obtaining from the whole body a re- 
milTion of fome part of their arrears. But being fo<Mi made 
feniible of their imprudent condu£i: on this occafion, by 
the frequent diforders thofe Barbarians committed in the 
city, they with fome difficulty prevailed upon the officers 
to take up their quarters at Sicca, and canton their troops 
in that neighbourhoodf As an inducement to comply with 
this propofal, they gave them a fum of money for their pre- 
fent fubfiftence, and promifed to fatisfy their demands,/ 
when the remainder of their troops arrived from Sicily. 
For fome time the mercenaries refufedto begin.their march, 
becaufe the Carthaginians were not difpofed to permit their 
wives and children to remain in Carthage, as they defired, 
believing that this indulgence would be an inducement to 
the foldiers to return often to the city, and confequently 
deprive -them of the benefits they had propofed from their 
departure. However, this difficulty was at laft overcome ; 
and all the mercenaries already arrived in Africa, with their 
wives, children, and baggage, marched to Sicca. This ftep 
.certainly ought to be confidered as an overfight in the Car- 
thaginians, fmce, had the women and children remained 
.in Carthage, they would have been as fo many hoftages for 
the future good behaviour of the foldiers '. 

Thefe troops being foon corrupted by idlenefs, a negled Hanno im* 
of difcipline enfued, and of courfe a petulant and licentious ^^^afts 
fpirit immediately took place. They were now determined '^'''' ^'/* 
not to acquiefce in receiving their bare pay, but to infift ^ ^' 
upon the rewards Hamilcar had promifed them, and even 
to compel the ftate of Carthage to comply with their de- 
mands by force of arms. The fenate being apprifed of the 
mutinous difpofition of the foldiery, difpatched Hanno, one 
of the fufFetes, to pacify them. Upon his arrival at Sicca, 

r Polyb. ubi fupra* 

he 



414 The Hiftoyy of the Carthaginians. 

» 

he behaved in a very prepofterous and imprudent manner. 
He expatiated upon the poverty of the (late, and the heavy 
taxes with vehich the citizens of Carthage veere loaded : 
and therefore, inftead of anfwering their expeftations, he 
defired them to be fatisfied with receiving part of their pay, 
and remit the remainder to fcrve the preffing exigences of 
the republic '• 
Vp9f Nothing could have been more impolitic than this con- 

wMckth^f jjjQ Qf Hanno, excepting that of the Carthaginians, when 
Ua^JL ^^^1 employed a perfon fo unqualified for the bufmefs he 
u Ttufts* went upon. In the firft place, he expofed his country's 
weaknefs to the contempt of the mercenaries, and then far- 
ther inflamed them, by rcfufing to comply with their juft 
demands, when they feemed determined to infill upon a 
compliance with thofe that were extravagant. But this 
perfon's conduft was uniform, both in his civil and mi- 
litary capacity, as will appear in the courfe of this war; 
fo that Carthage muft have been ruined, had (he not found 
fo able a general as Hamilcar to fupport her in the time of 
her great diftrefs. In (hort, the mercenaries being exaf- 
perated that neither Hamilcar, nor any other of the princi- 
pal officers ^ho commanded them in Sicily, and who were 
the beft judges of their merit, appeared on this occafion, 
but only Hanno, a perfon utterly unknown, and above all 
others difagreeable to them, had immediate recourfe to 
;irms. Aflembling therefore in a body, to the number of 
twenty thoufand men, they advanced to Tunes^ and en- 
camped before that city K 
The mer^ The Carthaginians, terrified at the approach of fo for- 
ttnaries midable a body to Tunes, made large conceffions to the mer- 
kriakwt cenaries,.in order. to recaU them to their duty. Theyor- 
riMRo^^ 4ered fupplics of provifions at their own prices, and fent a 
deputation of fenators to confer with their chiefs, and if 
poffible to give them fatisfa£tion. Far from being fatisfied, 
they grew more infolent upon thefe conceffions, taking 
them for the efFefts of fear and weaknefs in the Carthagi- 
nians. As this powerful corps confifted of Iberians, Gauls, 
Ligurians, natives of the Balearic iflands, Greeks, and A- 
fricans, who were ftrangers to one another^s language, the 
Carthaginians found it impoffible to treat with them. Many 
of them likewife being flaves and deferterS, confequcndy 
expediing capital punifhment, either for this rebellion, or 
other enormous crimes, did their utmoft to prevent all 
friendly intercourfc with the ftate of Carthage. They morc- 

• Idem ibid. & Appian, in Libyc. p. 7. edit. Tollii, Amft. 1670. 
« Polyb, ubi fupra. 

over 



The Hlflpry of the Carthaginians '^ 415 

over confidered that. republic as deftitute of troops, and 
themfelves as the bed foldiers in the world. Thefe coafi- 
derations, for fome time, made them entirely averfe to all 
thoughts of an accommodation-: they rofe in their demands, 
without the lead regard to reafon or juftice. They prac- 
tifed the vileil atrs to extort money from their mafters. 
When one point was gained^ they immediately had recourfe 
to a new artifice^ on which to ground fome frefh preten- 
fion. Was their pay fettled beyond the agreement made 
with them ? they ftill would be reimburfed for the lofTes 
which they pretended to have fuftained, either by the death 
of horfesy the exceffive price they had at certain times paid 
for their corn, or their fhort allowance of provifions at thofe 
feafons. They infilled alfo upon the recompence due to 
their merit, fo often promifed ; and that in all thefe points 
they (hould have immediate fatisfa£Uon. The Carthagi- 
nians, finding themfelves obliged to make a virtue of n'e* 
ceffity, ihewed a difpofition to fatisfy them in all points, 
and agreed to refer themfelves to the opinion of fome ge- 
neral in Sicily, as they had all along defired, leaving the 
choice of fuch commander entirely to the troops. Accord* 
ingly they appointed Gifco to mediate this affair, believing 
Hamilcar to have been a principal caufe of the ill treatment 
they had received, fince he never appeared amongft them, 
and, according to the general opinion, had voluntarily re- 
figned his commiffion. Gifco foon arrived at Tunes with 
money to pay the troops ; and after conferring with the 
officers, and the feveral nations apart, he harangued them 
in a mild and infinuating manner. He reminded them of 
.the long time they had been in the Carthaginian fervice ; 
the confiderable fums they had received from the republic; 
and in ihort gave them to underftand, that all their reafon- 
able demands would be complied with ; but at the fame 
time he defired them to recede from all exorbitant claims, 
and reft fatisfied with their pay. This remonftrance made 
fuch an impreffion upon the minds of the foldiery, that a 
treaty was upon the point of being concluded, when Spen- 
dius and .Mathos^ two of the principal mutineers, occa- 
fioned another tumult in the camp. Spendius was a Cam- 
panian, who had been a flave at Rome, and fled to the 
Carthaginians. He was ilrong, a<Slive, and extremely bold. 
The apprehcnfions he was under of being delivered into 
the hands of his old mafter, if a pacification took place, 
urged him to break o£F the accommodation. Mathos was 
an African, and free-bom ; but as he had been a£live in 
ratfing the rebellion, and was well acquainted with the im- 
placable difpofition of the Carthaginians, he knew that a 

peace 



41 6 7^ ll'0(ny of the Carthaginians. 

peace m«ft infallibly prove his ruift. He therefore verf 
wamriy efpoufed the interefts of Spendiusi and infinuated 
to the Africans the danger of concluding a treaty at that 
jnn^iare, as this would leave them fingly eipofed to the 
rage of the Carthaginians* ** The Gauls, Iberians, Ltgu- 
riansy and Greeks (fatd he), after having received their ar* 
. Fears, will be difmifled, and henceforth enjoy an uninter- 
rupted repofe amongft their countrymen at home ; whereas 
you, being left alone, will have the whole guilt of the re- 
bellion imputed to you, and, deftitute of fupport, fall an 
eafy facrifice to the refentment of your imperious mailers.'' 
Thefe infinuations gave a new turn to affairs, and fo in- 
eenfed the Africans, who lyere much more numerous than 
the troops of any other nation, that they immediately af- 
fembled in a mutinous manner. The foreigners foon joined 
them, being infpired by Spendius with an equal degree of 
fury. Nothing now was heard amongft them but the moft 
horrid imprecations uttered againft Gifco and the Cartha- 
ginians. Whoever ofll^red to tnake any remonftrance, or 
attend to temperate counfels, was ftoned to death by the 
enraged multitucle. Many perfons loft their lives, barely for 
prefumingtofpeak, before the purportof theirdifcourfeeouU 
be known, or any one could infer, whether they were in 
the intereft of the Carthaginians or Spendius. As the ftate 
of Carthage had very iif^i politicly fuppHed the maiconlents 
with plenty of wine, and all kinds of provifions, they in- 
dulged tlfemfelves with great freedom ; and being at this 
Junilure heated with wine, which they had drank to eK- 
cefs, they gave a full vent to their rage and infolence, 
threatening the African republic with utter deftru€LioR. 
No one having the courage to open his mouth in favour of 
peace, the troops made choice of Spendius and Matho^to 
head them in the intended expedition ^« 
And ad- In the midft of thefe commotions, Gifco behaved with 

%faHC£ to- ^reat firmncfs and intrepidity. That general had too much 
'^ard^ eonrage, and too great a regard for hi$ country's welfare, to 
'"^* defift from attempting to reduce the mutineers to reafon, 
notwithftanding his prcfent dangerous (ituation. He left 
no methods untried to mollify^ the officers, and calm the 
minds of the foldtery, though at the fame time he preferved 
en air of dignity and command, giving them to underftand, 
that Carthage was not in fuch low eircumftances as they 
imagined. But the many falfe fteps the Carthaginians had 
been guilty of, fince the commencement of thefe troubles, 

• 

p Poly b 5c Appian. ubi fup. Died* Sic. lib. xxv* ki Excerpt. 

VaicC 

de- 



Tb€ Hijiory of the Carthaginians* 417 

^ defeated his good intentions, and rendered inefieflual all 
liis endeavours. The torrent of fedition was now become 
fo' ftrong and rapid, that there was no poffibility of ftem- 
ming it, or keeping it within bounds. A fcarcity of pro- 
vifions fucceeding their late plenty and profufion, the troops, 
in an infolent manner, demanded of Gifco an immediate 
fupply, who, to reprove their infolence, bade them apply 
for it 10 Mathos their captain. Such an incident as. this, 
confidering the prefent difpofition of the malecontents, 
cpuld not avoid fetting the whole camp in a flame. ** Shall 
he with impunity (faid they) not onjy refufe redreffing our 
juft grievances and complaints, but turn even our wants and 
neceffities into ridicule ?'^ In a moment, therefore, they 
fei^ed upon the military cheft, dividing the money amongft 
themfclvcs, in part of their arrears, put the pcrfon of Gifco 
under arreft, and treated him, as well as his attendants^ 
with the utmofl indignity. Mathos-and Spendius, to dc- 
ftroy the remoteft hopes of a reconciliation with Carthage, ^ 
applauded the courage and refolution of their men, loaded 
the unhappy Gifco and his followers with irons, and form- 
ally declared war againft the Carthaginians. All the cities 
of Africa, to whom they had fent deputies to exhort thenv 
to recover their liberty, foon joined them, except Utica and 
Hippo Diarrhytus, or, as Polybius calls it, Hippacra. By 
this acceflion their army being greatly increafed, they di«- 
vided it into two bodies ; with one of which th^y moved 
towards Utica, whilft the other marched to Hippo, in or- 
der to beGege both thofe places. The Carthaginians, in the 
mean time, found themfelves ready to (ink under the pref- 
fure pf their misfortunes, their city having never before 
been expofed to fuch imminent danger. Every thing at. 
prefent feemed to confpire to their ruin. The citizens drew 
their particular fubfiftence from the rents or revenues of 
their lands, and the public expences from the tribute paid 
from Africa \ all which they were not only deprived of at 
once, but, what is much worfe, it was employed againft 
them. They were deftitute of arms and forces either for. 
fea or land \ had made no preparations for fudaining a fiege, 
or equipping a fleet ; they fuffered all the calamities inci- 
dent to the moft ruinous civil war; and, to complete their 
mifery, had not the lead profpe£l of receiving aiEftanca 
from any foreign friend or ally ^^ 

Such was the prefent melancholy (ituation of Carthage,, TA//rtf# 
which the Carthaginians had brought upon themfelves, by caifftsof 
their numerous inftances of cruelty, injuftice, and ill con- ^H/^' 

X Polyb. & Diodor. ubi fup. 

Vol, XV. E e duft. 



^iS The Hi/loty of the CarthaglntanS. 

duft. Daring the laft war, they had moft tyrattnicaUf ojv' 
prcfled all the African nations ftibjeft to them, by impofing 
cxccflivc tributes, in the exaftion of which no allowance 
was made for pofcriy, or the extremes of mifcry. They 
never fent fuch governors into the province* as were likely 
to gain the affeftions of the people by their lenity and ma- 
deration ; but, on the contrary, fuch only as wouH fleece 
them, in order to fit out fleets, and raife armies, for the 
ambitious purjJofes of the republic, where Hanno at that 
time governed with almoft abfolute power. It cannot there- 
fore be thought ftrangej that the Africans were fo eafily 
prevailed upon to engage in rebellion. At tie very firft fig- 
nal that was made, it broke out, and in a moment became 
general. The woAien, who* kad often, vnxh tfce dteepeft 
afflidion, feen their hufbands and fathers dragged to prifeit 
for non-payment of the moft unreafonable taxes and impofts^ 
as likewife fuflering cruel deaths for the flighteft crimes, 
Slewed themfelves extremely a£tive in promoting a revoltt- 
tion. They not only entered into an aflbciation to annoy 
fo barbarous and inhuman an enemy, but Hkewife with 
pifeafure gave up all their ornaments to contribute towards 
the expcnceff of the war. Mathos and Spendius, therefore^ 
by fuch feafonable and large fupplies, found themfelves en- 
abled not only to animate their foldiers by a fpeedy pay- 
ment of the fums promrfed them, but likewife to fettle a 
fufl^cient fund for the future exigencies of the war. 
ne Cm'" The Carthaginians, notwithftatiding their deplorable cir- 
tkat^imaus comftanccs, did not defpond, but purfued the meafurcs 
mahMpre-' neceflary to put themfelves in a pofture of defence. As 
Hreduti Hanno had already diftinguiftied hinifelf in their fcrvice, 
themit' they appointed him commander in chief of atl their forces. 
€imartei f Troops, horfe as welt as foot, were levied both for land and 
uafon^ fea-fcFvice* AH citizens, capable of bearing arms, were 
muftered ; the horfe cxercifed with great diligence and ap- 
plication y mercenaries invited from all parts \ many new 
gallies built, and all the old fiiips refitted. In fliort, the 
moft extraordinary efforts were made, not only to repel all 
the attempts of the mutineers, but even to reduce them to 
rcafon by force of arms '. 
Maih9» In the mean time Mathos and Spendius, having ain army 

mud Spin- of feventy thoufand men at their devotion, invefted Utica 
^*' ^u ' *"^ Hippacra at one and the fame time, and pufhed on both 
amdHilh^ thofe ficges with the utmoft vigour r but, as they Were car- 
pacra ai ^ied on by detachments drawn from the army for that pur- 
tfu fame pofc^ they remained with the main body of rhcir forces at' 



!/«!#. 



Folyb* ubi fbp^ 

Tttucs, 



fhe ttij^ory of the Carihdginiatii. . 41^ 

. jiutiNS^i and thereby cut off aH cbmmtiiiication betwixt Car^ 
tliage aird the continent of Africa. This difpofition greatly 
weakenea the Carthaginians, whofe- icapital was thereby ^ 
held in a kind of blockade* The Africans likewife harafledt 
them with perpetual alartris, advancing to the very walls of 
Carthage by day a& well as by night, and treating with the 
iitmoft cruelty every Carthaginian that fell into their hands. 

Hanno, a general more to be efteerried for his diligence Hakfiofikt 
' in making military preparations, than hisconduft in time of ^g^i^ft ' 
aftion, marched to the relief bf Utica with a ftrong body of J^^JJ^^^ 
forces', a hundred elephants, and a large train of battering- ,f^ry im- 
engines. Having taken a view of the enemy, he inimedi- prudcntlji 
ately attacked their entrenchments ; and, after an obftinatc 
difpute, by the*help of his elephants ; itiade bimfelf mafter 
of their camp. As the elephants did great execution,' the 
ttiercenaries loft a great number of men in the aftion, sind 
confequently the advantage gained wasfo confiderable, that' 
it might have proved decifive, had Hanno made a proper 
trie of it J but not entef raining a right idea of thefe veteran 
troops, who had learned* under the conduft of Hamilcao 
in Sicily, to fly before an enemy, face about, and attack 
their purfucrs, as occafion fhould require, he imagined he 
had routed a body of raw undifciplined Africans and 
^Jumidians, who upon any defeat, generally retired into 
the heart of the country. After he had entered the town, 
he lay there in great feeurity, his tfoops, in the mean 
time, ordered to guard the camp, every where neglefting 
their duty. The mercenaries, who* after Hanno's viftory^ 
had rallied Upon a neighbouring eminence, ftrOng by its fi- 
tuation, and covered with a wood, where they had pofted 
themfelves, being informed of this want of difciplihe, poured 
down upon them, cut many otf, forced the reft to fly into 
the toVirrt, retook and plundered the carnp^ arid feized upon 
all the provifions, and military ftores, brought from Car- 
thage to the relief bf the befieged. Nor was this the only \ 
error committed by Hanno 5 another inftance of his military 
incapacity foon difcovcred iifelf : though he lay encarriped 
Irt the mofl advantageous manner near a town called Gorza 
(I), at which place he twice defeated the enemy, and had ^ 
k in his power to have totally ruined them, he yet negle£t-» 
cd to improve thefe advantages, and even fufFered the mer-^ 

(I) It may be coll e6ted from land joining the pcninfula on 

Pblybius, that the town of Gor» which Carthage Aood to the 

za was iituated in the neigh- contin^ntof Africa, though the 

bourhood of Utica, and not far fituatiou of it cannot be precife- 

from the iflhmud or neck of ly determined* 

Ec 2 cenarics 



4^o 



itmaumdi 



The Hijlory of the Carthaginians^ 

ccnariesto poflefs thcrnfelves of theifthmus^ which joined 
the peninfub, on which Carthage Aood, to the continent 
of Africa *. 

Such repeated blunderst Which had almofl: proved fatal 
to the republic, incenfed the Carthaginians* and induced 
them once more to place Hamilcar Barcas at the head of 
the forces. 1 his dilmiffion was extremely mortifying to 
Hanno, who had always been an inveterate enemy to the 
Barchine fadiion, and of courfe infufed new life into Ha- 
milcar, and his adherents, who undoubtedly, during Han- 
no's influence, were excluded from ail pofts.in the admir 
nidration. Hamilcar, in all refpedis, anfwered the high 
idea his countrymen had entertained of hipi. He marched 
againft the enemy with an army of about ten thoufandmen, 
horfe and foot, and feventy elephants, all the troops the 
Carthaginians could at that time afiemble for their defence; 
which is a convincing proof of the great extremities to 
which they were then reduced. As Mathos, after he had 
made himfelf mafter of tbeifthmus, had polled proper de- 
tachments in two pafTes on two hills facing the contiiient, 
and guarded the bridge over the Bagrada, which, through 
Hanno*s negle£l, he bad taken, Hamilcar faw little proba- 
bility of fighting him upon e<)ual terms, or indeed of draw- 
ing him to an engagement. He was therefore obliged to 
have recourfe to a (tratagem at this critical conjuncture, 
efpecially as Mathos lay encamped, with his army at a vil- 
lage near the bridge, and watched the enemy's motions with 
the utmoft vigilance. Obferving that, upon the blowirig 
of certain winds, the mouth of the river was choaked with 
fand, which formed a kind of bar, and rendeied the rivec 
pafiable, though with great difficulty, as long as thofe 
winds continued, he halted fome time at the river's mouth, 
without communicating his defign to any perfon. As foon 
as the wind favoured his intended project, he paflcd the 
river privately by night, without the lead oppofition^ nei- 
ther his own men, nor the mercenaries, dreaming of any 
fuch attempt. Immediately after his pafTage, Jie drew up the 
troops, and, advancing into the plain, where his elephants 
were capable of a^iug, moved towards Mathos, who was 
polled at the village near the bridge. This aflion greatly 
redounded to Hamllcar's glory, being of fo daring a na- 
ture,^ that it equally furprifed the malecontents and the Car- 
thaginians ». 
gmJJifiats The Africans being informed that Hamilcar fucceeded 
ihiMirct^ Hanno in the command of the Carthaginian army^ that he 



Polyb. ubi fupra. 



Idem ibid* 



ka4 



The Hifldfy of the Carthaginians. 42 1 

Kad already pafled the Bagradai and was marching at the 
head of his forces to attack their camp, were thrown into 
the utmod confternation. They well knew, that they had 
not now to deal with a man of Hanno's genius, but with 
the gre.ateft captain of the age ; a captain, from whom they 
themfelves had learned the art of war, and who was in- 
finitely fuperior to all their generals in every branch of it. 
However Spendius, receiving intelligence of the enemy's 
motions, drew a body of ten thoufand men out of Matho's 
camp, with which he attended Hamilcar on one tide, and 
ordered fifteen thoufand men from Utica toobferve him on 
the other, thinking to furround the Carthaginians, and cut 
off both their army and general at one ftroke. Hamilcar 
in the mean time advanced with great intrepidity, his troops 
being ranged in order of battle : but obfecving the merce- 
naries approached him with great temerity, though at the 
fame time with refolution, and as much confidence as if 
they had been fure of viftory, he fuddenly changed his or- 
der of battle, retiring before the enemy, as though he was 
afraid of being attacked. This motion anfwered the end 
propofed ; for the mercenaries, confidering it as the effe£fc 
of fear, and confequently as a tacit acknowlegement of their 
valour and fuperiority, fell upon him with great fury, but 
without any difcipline or order. Hamilcar therefore facing 
aboutin aninfl:ant,and bis horfe behaving with extraordinary 
bravery, the enemy were foon put to flight ; when meeting 
a body of their own troops coming to their relief, and mif- 
taking them for the Carthaginians, they engaged them ; 
upon which a'dreadful flaugbter enfued ^ In fine, HamiU 
car gave the malecontents a total overthrow, in which they 
had fix thoufand men killed, and two thoufand taken pri- 
foners. The reft fled, fome to the town at the bridge, and 
others to the camp at Utica. Hamilcar did not give the 
enemy time to recover from their confufion, but purfued 
them with great ardour to the village near the bridge; which 
he entered without oppofition, the mercenaries flying in 
great confufion to Tunes. Many towns, which had revolt- 
ed to the enemy, terrified by this defeat, fubmitted to the 
Carthaginians \ others Hamilcar reduced by force. In (hort, 
the Carthaginians, finding that Hamilcar had feized many 
of the enemy's advantageous pods, were greatly animated 
by his condu£fc, and doubted not but he would foon put a 
happy conclufion to this deftruftive war **. 

Notwithftanding thefe difafters, Mathos pufhed on the HaMcar 
iiege of Hippo with great vigour, and appointed Spendius offitdhy 

^ Polyb. ubi fupra. & Corn. Ncp. ubi fupra. * </*'• 

E c 3 and 



4^ ^ Tb€ Hifioty of thi Carthaginians* 

^nd AittarUu$ commander of the Gaulsj with a ftrongbody 
of troops, X.O. obferve the motions of Hamilcar, ad vifing dieir| 
^ove all things, to guard againft a furprize ; which, confi- 
dering the abilities of that general, as well as his fuperiority 
in l)or£e and elephants, was a very wholfome admonition. 
At the fame time he foljcited ^he Numidians, and neigh-r 
hQiiring Africans, to furnifh a proper number of recruits^ 
exhornng them to make their utmoft efforts at the prefent 
conjuncture, which feemed to be the only opportunity left 
pf reopvering their liberty, to a0ert their independency, and 
throw off the yoke of the Carthaginians. Spendius and 
Autaritus^ therefore, at the head of a choice detachment of 
fix thoufand . men, drawn out of the camp at Tunes, and 
pffo thoufi^nd Gallic horfe, watched {lamilcar, approaching 
him as near as they could with fafety, and keeping clofe to 
the fkirts of the mountains, as they had been advifed. At 
laft Spendiust having received a ftrong reinforcement of 
Africans and Numidians, and poflefling himfelf of ^11 the 
Jieigbts furrpunding the place in ujhich H^milcar l^y .en- 
camped, refplved not to let flip fo favourable an ppportunity 
qf attacking that general. Accordingly he placed the Nur 
mtdians in the rear, and the Africans in front, whilft himr 
fclf* with his firft detachment, wa. refolved to charge the 
pnemy in flank; and, having made this difpofition, boldly 
advanced towards the Carthaginians. Had a battle cnfued, 
Hamilcar and his whole army mud, in all human probabi- 
lity, have been totally mined ; but here his good fortune 
interpofing, faved them both. It happened, that at that 
titne Naravafus, a young Numidian nobleman, eminent for 
his perfonal merit, commanded a body of Numidians in 
the enemy's army. Thi§ nobleman, oefore the breaking 
out of the prefent war, had been a great promoter of the 
Carthaginian intereft, on account of the friendihip that had 
fubfifted many years betwixt his father ai^d that nation \ 
and, being now charmed with the reputation of ^amilcar, 
was determined to renew his formi^r good underftanding with 
Carthage, and not fufFer fo brave a man to b(5 facrificed. He, 
therefore, with a hundred Numidian borfe, approached the 
Carthaginian 1 ines, acquainting one of their advanced guards^, 
that he had foiViething of importance to communicate to the 
general. As the Carthaginians exprefied fome diffidence, 
he immediately difmoqnted, and, leaving his horfe and arms, 
went direftly to Hamilcar's tent, without the leaft diftriift 
pr fufpicion: lie then informed Hamilcar^ that he wa§ 
fvell difppfed towards the Cafthaginian natipn in general, 
l^^t that to contraft a friendfliip with him, for whom he 
' had the moft profound veneration and efteem, was the 



The ir^ory of th Carihagmanu 4)1 } 

iieight €rf'y8 ambition. Hamilcar,* greatly admiring lb ge- 
nerous, polite, and gallant an action, made an equal return 
of gallantry, politenefs, and generofity. He made Nara- 
vafilie his absolute confident in all points. He took l^m 
for his companion, imparting to him his moft fecret defigns; 
and afterwards gave him his daughter in marriage. . Upon 
the fkme of this event, two thoufand Numidians came over 
in a body to Hamilcar, who, ftrengthened by fuch a fea- 
fonaUe reinforcement, found himfeif in a condition to give 
(Spendius and Autaritus battle. The fight was obftinate 
and bloody, and the vidory for a long time doubtful ; but 
the young Numidian moft eminently diftinguiftiing himfclf, 
and the Carthaginian elephants bearing down ali before 
them, the mercenaries were at laft entirely overthrown, 
Spendius and Autaritus efcaped by flight, but left ten thou-' 
fand of their men <iead upon the fpot, betides four thoufand 
taken prifoners. All the prifoners, who were willing to 
enlift in the Carthaginian fervice, Hamilcar received amongft 
fals troops, fupplying them with the arms of the foldiers who 
had fallen in the engagement. The reft he difmifled, oa 
condition that they ftiould never for the future bear arms 
againft the Carthaginians. However, he acquainted them, 
that as many violaters of this agreement as fliould hereafter 
fall into his hands, muft expeA to fuflfer death without 
mercy *. ' 

Mathos, Spendius, and Autaritus, the chiefs of the male- ngchttft 
contents, fearing that thisafieded lenity of Hamilcar might ofthimir-' 
oocafion a d|efedion among their troops, thought the only '^^^^^i. 
expedient to prevent this misfortune would be, to engage ^J^gat^rm* 
them in fome aftion fo execrable in its own nature, as fliould eltj. 
deprive them of all hopes of ever being reconciled to the 
enemy. Accordingly, having aflembled them as though 
fomething of moment had been imparted to them, a mef- 
fenger, a« ha?d been previoufly concerted, appeared with 
fiftitious letters from the mercenaries in Sardinia, who had 
followed the example of the Africans, giving them advice 
of a fecret defign formed by fome of their companonis, in 
conjun£lion with Gifco, to refcue that general, and all his 
followers, out of prifon at Tunes, where they had been fo 
long detained. Spendius on thisoccafibn made a fpeech to 
the foldiers, wherein he exhorted them not to be impofed 
Upon by HamilcaPs pretended clemency, fince this was only 
intended for a bait to decoy their whole body into his hands, 
that he might take ample vengeance all at once. He far- 
ther advifed them to have a ftrift eye upon Gifco, infinuati- 

» 

. * Polyb* ubi fupra. . • ' 

\ ' E e 4 ingi 



Ht^ The Hifibry of the Carthaginians* 

. ingy that the efcape of an officer of fuch influerioc as^ ca- 
pacity might be attended with the moft fatal confequences. 
He had fcarce finiflied, when another courier arrived, as was 
pretended, from Tunes, intimating, that the plot was upon 
the point of being carried into execution., Hereupon Au- 
taritusy addreffing himfelf to the foldiery, moved, in fup- 
port of what Spendius had advanced, that whoever jQiould 
ihew any difpofition to repofe the lead confidence in the 
Carthaginian promifes or infinuations, ihould be deemed a 
traitor ; and, in ihort, gave it as his opinion, that Gifco, 
and all the Carthaginians with him, ought immediately to 
be cut off. Autaritus, being very popular in the army» and 
fuppofed to have a thorough knowlege of the Carthaginians, 
as having refided long amongft tbem,- and being a perfed 
mailer of tbeir language, was liftened to with great atten- 
tion. His fpeech made fuch an imprefl^n, that the tvhole 
aflfembly acquiefced in the propofal, though fome of every 
nation joined in a petition, that, as Gifco had been a com- 
mon friend and benefa£lor touhem all, hp might be dif- 
patched without any torture : but great part of the army be- 
ing compofed of fuch a variety of nations, and not under- 
ftanding the matter of the petition, no regard was paid to 
their remonftrance, In conformity therefore to that favage 
brutality fo natural to them, the mercenaries firft ftoned to 
death all the prifoners they had taken from the Carthagini- 
ans ia the late engagements, who were foon after interred 
by their relations ^ and then, at the command of Spendius, 
executed Gifco, and feven hundred Carthaginians with him, 
as the vilcft malefaftors. Their heads were cut off, their 
bodies difmembered, and afterwards thrown almoft breatb- 
inginto a hole prepared for that purpofe. The Cartht- 
ginians, being apprifed of thefe inhuman cruelties, were 
^moft fenlibly touched, and ordered their generals to reta- 
liate them upon the murderers with the utmoft feverity. 
In the mean time Hamilcar, fending a herald to. demand 
the remains of his countrymen, in order to pay them the laft 
mournful office, received this anfwer, that whoever pre- 
fumed hereafter to come upon that errand, (hould meet 
with Gifco's fat^. They likewife came to an immediate re- 
folution to treat fuch Carthaginians as (hould fall into their 
hands with the fame barbarity. As for their countrymen 
in the Carthaginian fervice, who (hould happen to be taken 
prifoners, they paffed a decree, firft to cut off their hands, 
;ind then fend them to Carthage ; which bloody refolutioo 
^hey executed with great rigour and punftuality. 

Hamilcar, being determined to revenge the barbarous 
treatment of the Carthaginians, ordered Hanno, who, it 

feemS) 



The Wftory of the Carthaginians. 'ijz^ 

feems> at that time commanded a feparatej body, to join 
him, that they might aft with the greater vigour againft 
the enemy. In order to deter the malecontents from 
fuch enormous proceedings for the future, he threw all the 
prifoners that fell into his hands to be devoured by wild 
beafts, being convinced, that compafEon ferved only to 
render them more fierce and untraftable. And now, when 
the Carthaginians were juft beginning, as it were, to 
breathe, and recover their fpirits, feveral unlucky accidents 
again concurred to deprcfsthem. By reafon of a mifunder- 
. Handing betwixt the generals, nothing could be undertaken 
againft the enemy ; a great fupply of provifions and mili- 
tary ftores, of which they were in extreme neceflity, coming 
to them from Emporium by fea, were all loft in a ftorm ; 
Sardinia, which had always ferved them as a magazirie in 
their greateft diftrefs, was totally loft, as we fliall hereafter 
4iave occafion to obferve ; and, to complete their misfor- Uiteaand 
tunes, they received intelligence of the defeflion of Utica Hippacra 
and Hippacra, the only cities which, till then, had pre- revolt t9 
ferved their allegiance, and always adhered inviolably to '^' «^^#- 
the republic, even when Agathocles and the Romans made ^^'^^* 
their defcents in Africa. The inhabitants of thefe towns, 
not fatisfied with entering into an alliance with Mathos 
and Spend! us, maiTacred the Carthaginian garrifon, confift*- 
ing of five hundred men, throwing their bodies over the 
walls : and, to imitate their allies in all their brutality, they 
refufed them burial, though the Carthaginians, by their 
ambafiadors, in preiling terms befought this favour. The 
mercenaries, animated by fuch fuccefs, advanced to the 
very walls of Carthage, with an intention to lay fiege to 
that city **. 

The Carthaginians, being apprifed of the divifion be- Hiiro £tjMt 
twixt their generals, and feeing the fatal efFe£ts of it, r^- tkiCar- 
folved to feparate th^m ; but left the determination of this '^^g^ffoni* 
point entirely to the army, who, having had long expe- 
rience of the great merit of Hamilcar, continued him in his 
command. Hannb was thetefore recalled a feCond time to 
Carthage, and Hannibal, an officer more agreeable to Ha- 
milcar, fent to fupply his place. Upon Hannibal's arrival 
in the camp, afiairs foon began to take a happy turn. * 

There being now a perfeft harmony betwixt the com- 
manders, the operations were not impeded as formerly. 
They fent out detachments to plunder and ravage the coun- 
try,. in order to cut off all fubfiftence from the enemy y a de- 
ign which they happily effefted, deftroying or carrying off 

' Polyb. ubi fupra. 

aU 



^^ The Hifiory 9fthe Cartkaglnians. 

tflltW forage and provifions. This> however, did not cn- 
.tireiy relieve the ggrrifon at Carthage* which was re^aoed 
to great extremities. The Carthaginians, thercfoic, w€rc 
obliged to have recourfe to their friends, and particularly to 
Hiero king of Syracufe, who granted what was demanded 
of him, both now, and throughout the whole courfe of this 
.war. That prince, as Polybius obferves, a£ied according 
to the maxims of true policy on this occa£on : for, if Car- 
thage had been deilroyed. Home would have had no rival 
J^eontend with in any future times; and, therefore, he him- 
self might foon have lain at the mercy of the Romans, 
^^thottt a pofiibility of being relieved by any neighbouriog 
power **, 

They air<^ applied to the Romans for afiiftance at thb 
(Critical junf^ure, though they had, Gnce the conclufion of 
, the laft treaty, difobliged that nation. At the beginning of 
ibis war, they had feized upon feveral Roman vefTeis trad- 
ing to the coafts of Africa, for fuppiying the enemy with 
jfnilitary (lores and proviiions ; and detained the ere vs, 
confiding of five hundred men, in cuftody. The Romans, 
incenfed at this infult, threatened the Cfarthaginians with 
their refentment, if they did not reieafe the prifoners, and 
reftore the (hips. The Carthaginians, either out of a pria- 
jciple of fear or generoGty> immediately fent both the mea 
$ind (liips to Rome, and that in io polite a manner, as gave 
I he Romans entire fatisfadion. The Romans, therefore, 
not to be outdone in point of civility, at this time releafed 
^11 the prifoners that ftill remained in their bands fincethc 
Jate war, without ranfom, ordered their merchants to affift 
Carthage with what it wanted, and prohibited all commerce 
with the Africans : at the fame time both the malecoa- 
tents of Africa and Sardinia oflered to fubmit, and to piit 
them into the immediate poiieifion both of Sardinia and the 
|own of Utica ; which overture they refufed. Thefe in* 
fiances of fuccefs animating the Carthaginians, they bore 
ithe fatigues of the fiege with great conftancy. In fhort, 
Mathos and Spendius, being extremely harafled by^ Hamii' 
car, who, by (Iratagems and rencounters, daily cut off 
great numbers of their men, and fo diftrefled them for want 
of provifions, that they apprehended a fpeedy famine, fouhd 
themfelves obliged to abandon the fiegc^- 
Strange Notwithllanding this difgrace, the* generals of the male* 

wtcJliiuJes' contents took the field with an army of fifty thoufand ef* 
9j fortune. i^(x\\^ ^^^^ haviug been joined by Zarxas, the head of an 

c Zonar. uhi fnpra. ' f Polyb. ubi fqpra, ^onar. lib. viii, 

<;ap »/• A|>j^iao, jn Ibcri^t 

Afvigaa 



The Hi/lory ofth^ Carthaginians. -427 

African hord or canton, with all his people capable of 
bearing arms. They watched Hamilpar's motions, but 
Jcept on the hills, carefully avoiding coming down into the 
plains, on account of Naravafus's tTumidian horfe, and the 
Carthaginian elephants. Hamilcar, being much fuperior to 
any of their generals in every branch of the military art, fre-» 
quently defeated their defigns ; fometimes difpofleuing them 
pf the^r advantageous pofts ; at other times drawing them 
into ambi^fcades ; and often defeating them in rencounters^ 
by which means he flew abundance of their men. If any 
of their foldiers ftraggled from the main body of the army, 
they certainly fell into his hands, and were thrown to wild 
beads, that be might, in fome meafure, retaliate the inhu- 
man cruelty of Spendius. Infliort, he harafTed the enemy by 
fuch a variety of methods, that he greatly dejefled them, and 
Jnfpired his own troops with frefh courage and vigour. At 
laft. He furprifed them when they leaft expefted it, and 
£hut them up in a poft, which was fo fituated, that it wa^ 
impoflible for them to efcape. Here he kept them clofely 
befieged, lying at eafe in his camp, and being plentifully 
fuppiied with all kinds of neceffaries. The mercenaries, 
not daring to venture a battle, and finding it impoflible tp 
retreat, began to fortify their camp with ditches and in- 
trenchments. Confcious of their enormous guilt, they de- 
fpaired of mercy, and therefore concluded it would oe in 
vain to make any overtures to Hamilcar. They were foon 
fo feverely prefixed by famine, that they were obliged to eat 
one another ; Divine Providence, fays Polybius, thus aveng- 
ing upon themfelves the inhumanity they had exercifed on 
others. As they cpuld not entertain the leaft hope o( an 
accommodation, after having been fo deeply concerned in 
fuch bloody fcenes, and knew what punifiiments would be 
inflifted, in cafe they fell alive into the hands of the enemy, 
they faw they had no refource left, and therefore prepared 
themfelves for the meafures which fhould be dictated by 
defpair. The forces from Tunes did not come to their aid 
as was expedled, and the famine made daily large ftrides 
amongft them. After having eaten their prifoners and 
flaves, they were obliged to devour one another. At lengthy 
impelled by extreme mifery, they infifted, that Spendius, 
Autaritus, and Zarxas, their leaders, fhould in perfon make 
propofals to Haniilcar, and to that end demand a confe- 
rence. Accordingly, having obtained a fafe-condudl, a 
treaty was agreed upon, and peace concluded, upon the 
following terms : that ten of the ringleaders of the maler? 
pontcnts fliould be left entirely to the mercy of the Cartha- 
ginians ) and that the trgops flipuld all be difarmed, every 



4zt The Hyiory of the Ckrthaginumu 

nan retiring with a fingle garihent. The treaty was no 
fooner concluded, than Hamilcar feized upon the nego- 
tiators themfelves, by virtue of the firft article ; a circum- 
fiance which favoured not a little of Punic fubtlety. The 
army, being informed that their chiefs were under arreft, 
and at the lame time ignorant of the articles of the treaty, 
had immediately recourfe to arms, fufpefiing that they 
were betrayed ; but Hamilcar, drawing out his army in 
order of battle, immediately furrounded, and either cut 
them to pieces, or trod them to death with his elephants. 
The place where this bloody tragedy was afted was called 
Prion. The number of the wretches who periOied amount- 
ed to above forty thoufand^. 
Maths After this maiTacre Hamilcar, Hannibal, and Naravafus, 

takes Han- fcoured the country, and many of the revolted towns re- 
mbalpri- turned to their obedience. According to the plan of opera- 
grueka ^*o^> Hamilcar immediately inverted Tunes, Into which 
• place Mathos retired with his remaining forces. Hannibal's 
quarter was on tl>e road leading to Carthage, and Hamil- 
car^s on the oppofite fide. The army was no fooner en- 
camped, than Hamilcar caufed Spendius, and the reft of 
the prifoners, to be led out in view of the befieged, and 
crucified near the walls. Mathos, by this example. Was 
apprifed of the fate he mnft exp«£l: to meet with, and there- 
fore undoubtedly rendered much more attentive to his own" 
defence. Obferving that Hannibal did not keep fo gpod a 
guard as due difcipline required, be made a fally, attacked 
his quarters, killed many of his men, took feveral prifoners, 
among whom was Hannibal himfelf, and plundered his 
camp. Taking the body of Spendius from the crofs on 
which it was fixed, he fubftituted Hannibal in its place ; 
and thirty Carthaginian prifoners of diftindlion, who all ex- 
pired in exquifite torture, were crucified round him ; for- 
tune, as Polybius exprefles it, giving both fides an oppor- 
tunity of vying with each other in cruelty. Hamilcar being 
at fome diftance from his colleague, it was fome time be- 
fore intelligence of his misfortune reached him ; and the 
road betwixt them being impaflable, had he received earlier 
intelligence of the fituation of affairs on that fide, he could 
not have moved with any. expedition to his aflaftance. He 
therefore immediately decamped, and polled himfelf along 
the fea-coaft, near the mouth of the river Bagrada **. 

The Carthaginians were terrified at this laft difafter; 
however, they omitted no means neceflary for their pre- 
fervation* They fent thirty fenators, with Hanno at the 

t Polyb. ubi fup. ^ Idem ibid» 

head 



TJbt Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 429 . 

head of them, to confult with Hamilcar about the proper t'a^ £%- 
meafures to be taken for fpeedily terminatmg this cruel and an njuar 
unnatural war, conjuring in the moft preffing manner Han- ftappilj 
no to be reconciled to Hamilcar, and to faciifice his private 1^*^ !^^ 
refentment to the public welfare. This defire was com- /^^ 
plied with, and the two generals came to a determined re- 
folution to a£t in concert for the good of the republic. The 
fenate at the fame time, ordered all the youth, capable of 
bearing arms, to be prefled into the fervice ; by which 
means a ftrong reinforcement being fent to Hamilcar, he. 
foon found himfelf in a condition to a£t ofFenfively ; fo that 
the Carthaginian affairs began to have a better afpe^l. Ha* 
milcar defeated the enemy in various rencounters, drew 
Mathos into frequent ambufcades, and gave him one ter- 
rible overthrow near Leptis. This reduced him to the ne- 
cellity of hazarding a decifive battle with the Carthaginians, 
"which proved fatal to him. Both fides engaged with equal 
fury ; but vidory was not long in fufpenfe, the mercena* 
ries flying almoft ^pon the firft attack. Moil of their army 
fell upon the field of battle, and in the purfuit ; MathoSf 
witli a few, fled to a neighbouring town, where he was 
taken, and carried alive to Carthage. All the revolted 
towns, except Utica and Hippo, which had behaved in 
fuch a manner, as to exclude themfelves from all hopes of 
. mercy, returned to their duty upon this defeat. Hamilcar, 
fitting down before thofe cities, foon reduced them, and 
thereby concluded this war. Mathos, having adorned the 
public triumph, was led to execution, and tiniflied, by a 
painful and ignominious death, a life that had been pollut- 
ed with the blacked treafons aiyd unparalleled barbaj-ities. 
From the excefles of cruelty committed in it, Polybius tells 
us, chat this war was generally diilinguiihed amongft the 
Greeks by the name of the Inexpiable War. 

During the Libyan war, the mercenaries in Sardinia de- I'ht Ro» 
clared againd the Carthaginians, excited by the example of fnansex* 
Mathos and Spendius in Africa. They feized upon the ^^^f Sar- 
perfon of Bodar, who commanded in the citadel of Olbia, ^'^vaSr 
and maflacred both him an4 the Carthaginian garrifon. from tit ■ 
The fenate, apprifed of this revolt, fent Hanno, with a Carthagi^ 
ftrong reinforcement of troops, to bring the mutineers to *'««/.^ 
reafon. Hanno, upon his arrival, was abandoned by his 
men, who joined the mercenaries, and not only crucified 
their leader, but put to the fword all the Carthaginians they 
could find in the illand. They poflefled themfelves of all 
the ftrong places, though) in a ftiort time, they were ex- 

?elled by the natives, and forced to take ftielter in Italy, 
'be RomanSi notwithftanding the friendftiip they had lately 
:. .: cxprefled . 



4M ^^ ttt^ry cfthe CarthdgtnianU 

ttpxttkA (ox the Carthaginians, gave coviitehance sitid ^re^ 
te^lion to thcfe fugitives. They fent the cooful SemprcH 
nius, on triikig pretences, with a ileer, to reinftate thofe 
maleeontents, and take pofleffion of Sardinia ; which th4 
Carthaginians bcitig now in ^ manner exhaufted, wcie 
obliged to cede. Not content with thi$ iniquitous intcrpo- 
fition, they obliged the Carthaginians to defray the expence 
of their armament^ and belides extorted fronfi th^irn the 
fttm of twelve hundred talents. Such perfidious conduA 
could not fail of heightening the averfion Hamilcar had zU 
r6ady conceived, and did not a little contribute to the fe<< 
cond Punic war, and to thofe dreadful devaftations which 
Hannibal afterwards committed in Italy ^ 
TJ^i faith' We arc told that, when the Carthaginians made prc«« 
Ufsdiat" parations to reduce Sardinia, the Romans pretended to be 
^' •'^ . . under terrible apprehenfions of their power, as though thcftf 
Cart/Mi* preparations. had been intended to fubvert their republic; 
atid therefore from hence declared war againft them. This 
fi£t plainly demonftrates, that the Roman»at that time wertf 
determined to embrace every method of gratifying their am- 
bition, and that they had then a refined genius for villainy/ 
The motives that induced them to aft in a friendly manniei' 
towards Carthage, when that ftate was in danger of being 
ruined by its rebellious fubjefts, were undoubtalJy faf dif- 
ferent from the fpccious pretext they offered to impofe up- 
upon the world. They probably confidered, that, if the 
Carthaginians were reduced to the laft gafp by the Barba-> 
rians, with whom they were engaged in \^ar, they would, 
by a little kindnefs, be induced to fubmit to them at fo 
critical a conjunfture. That the friendly offices the Ro- 
rtans did the Carthaginians in the time of their great di- 
ftrefs were the refult of political views, and did not proceed 
from any noble or generous fentiments, is abundantly evl^ 
dent, not only from their fubfequent conduft, but even 
from feveral hints of their own prejudiced hiftorians^. 
Hamilcar Hamilcar, by the happy conclufion of the Libyan waf, 
tnavcha not Only reftored tranquility to the republic, but greatly ex-* 
tniQ Spain, tended the Carthaginian conquefts in Africa. Finding his 
country not in a condition to enter into an immediate war 
with Rome, he formed a fchemc to place it upon a level 
with that imperious republic; which was, to make an en- 
tirie conqueft of Spain, that the Carthaginians might have 
troops capable of oppoSng the Romans. In order to faci- 

*Po1yb ubi Aipra. L^v. lib. x^t. Orof. lib. iv, cap. ii. Zonar. 
ubi fuv*. cnp. 19. Appian. in Ibcric. fub init. k Polyb. 

lfiv» &c. ubi fwprac 

litatc 



The Hifiofy of the Cartbagimans. ij^t 

litate tlie execution of this fcheme, he infpired both his 
fon-in-}^^ Afdrubal and his fon Hannibal with an impla-' 
cable averfion to the Romans, the inveterate enemies of hiis ' 
and his country's grandeur. Afdrubal xlid not live to be a 
fcourge to the Romans j but Hannibal brought that proud 
nation to the very brink of dcftruflion. Immediately after 
the troubles in Africa were appeafed, the fenate fent Ha- 
milcar upon an expedition agarinft the Numidians ; a cir- 
cQmftance which renders it probable, that the Carthaginians 
had an mtention to punifh them for joining their difcon* 
tinted mercenaries. Hamilcar gave frefh proofs of his 
courage and abilities in this expedition, fince, by his valour 
and conduft, he finiftied it fo much to the fatisfaftion of 
the repubKc, that he was vefted with the command of the 
afmy deftined to aft ?gainft Spain. Hannibal his fon, at 
that time but nine years of age, begged, with the utmoft 
iiiiport unity, to attend him on this occafion, for that pur- 
pose employing all the foothing arts fo common to children 
of his age, and which have fo much power over a tender 
parent. Hamilcar granted his requeft ; but ordered him to 
put his hand upon the altar, and fwear, that he would be 
an irreconcilable enemy to the Romans, and zGt as fuch 
as foon as bis age would permit. He likewifc took with 
him Afdrubal, after he had beftowed his daughter in mar- 
riage VLp6n that general. Nepos intimates, that he was ' 
forced to this ftep, becaufe the cenfor took Afdrubal from 
him, upOrt a report, that he was more familiar with that 
youth than was confident with virtue and decency. How- 
cvet, that biographer at the fame time treats this report as 
ac^linnny, and tells us, that, by the Carthaginian laws, it 
wiis trot permitted any perfon to feparate the fon-in-Iaw 
from the father-in-law. The military prcpairtions being 
completed, Hamilcar advanced with a powerful army to 
Ahylz (K), and croffing the ftreights of Hercules> landed in 
Spain without oppoGtion. He began the operations by in- 
curfions into the enemy's country, fixing his head-quarters 
at Gades, now Cadiz, the capital of the Carthaginian ac- 
quifitions in Spain. According to Appian and Polybius, 
he had two vie^vs in this war ; firft, to enable Carthage to' 
revenge the indignities received from the Romans ; and, 
fccoridly, to have a pretext for being abfcnt from home, 

(K) Abyla, thepiHnrofHer- have a narrow Tea betwixt 

cules on the African fide, is them, called anciently Fretum 

oppofite to the other in Spain Herculeum, t/je Strcights of, 

called Calpe. They are both Hercules ; bet, by rhe rrioderns, 

confiderable mountains, and the Strcights of Qlh. altar* 

• • ' the 



;• ja The Hifiofy of the Carthaginians. 

Cbe Carthaginian (late being at that time miferably diftra£):- 
. ed by two potent fa£lions, over one of which prefided Han- 
no, Hamilcar's inveterate enemy. However, by the great 
fuccefs he met with, and the reputation be had already 
acquired, he animated his friends at home, enabling them 
to carry every point, and would undoubtedly have come 
foon to hoftilities with the Romans, had not death pre- 
vented his defign from taking effecSk ^ 
^ Ait ^^ commanded in Spain nine years, and during that in- 
fium/rtd* terval fubdued many warlike nations. In the courfe of fo 
Ums anions long a war, confidering how rich a country Spain was, an 
ii kiUtd immenfe quantity of treafure»mu{l neceflarily have fallen into 
^^*' his hands. This he diftributed in the moft politic manner, 

partly amongft the troops, and partly amongft the grcs^ 
men at Carthage ; by which means he fecured his intereii^ 
with both thofe powerful bodies. We have received no p^^ 
ticular detail of the actions he was concerned in during that 
term to be depended upon, only an account of the battle in 
which he fell. The Vettones or Vefloncs, a nation of Lu- 
Ctania, incenfed at the dc\a(lations committed in their 
country by the Carthaginians, alTembled all their forces, 
with an intention to give Hamllcar battle. They were join- 
ed by many other petty nations, commanded by their dif- 
ferent reguli, who had been plundered and laid under con- 
tribution in the fame manner. To compafs their end they 
made ufe of the following ilratagem : they fent before them 
a vaft number of waggons filled with fafcines, pitch, ful- 
phur, and other combuftible materials, drawn by oxen, their 
troops following under arms, and marching in order of bat- 
tle. The Carthaginians at firft ridiculed this feemingly art- 
lefs (Iratagem ; but at lad the Spaniards, upon their ap- 

E roach ing Hamilcar, fet fire to thefe vehicles, driving the 
eads amongft the enemy, who foon found themfelves oblig- 
ed to quit their ranks. • The Vettones and their allies ob- 
ferving their confufion, charged them with fuch bravery^ 
that they put them to flight, killing many upon the fpot, 
amongft whom' was the general himfelf. This relation we 
have extrafted from Appian, Ncpos, Frontinus, and Zona- 
ras ; but muft own that moft, if not all, the circumft:ance$ 
of it are omitted by Polybius* That excellent hiftorian only 
fays in general, that Hamilcar came to an end worthy his 
exalted charadler> dying glorioufly in the field of battle at 
the head of his troops* Upon Hamilcarfs death the army 

• 1 Appian. in Ihcric. Polyb. lib/iii. &Liv. ubi fupra. Vide Com. 
Nep. Aurel. Vi6l. Eutrop. &c. Val. Max. lib. ix. cap. 3. Flor. lib* 
ii. cap, 6 

cle£led 



The Uyiwy of the Carthaginians* 4 M • 

tleS^ his ib0-in4aw Afdruhal, then the Carthaginian ad- 
miraJ, to fucceed him in tbe ccmimand °^. 

The lenate, after they had confirmed the thoice the army AJdruhal 
had made of a geacral, fent Afdrubal a fti ong reinforce-* chosen f ' 
tnent of tTOops^ to enable him not only to preferve but to ex- f^J^V^ 
tend theif oooquefia. As the new general had been train- 
ed' up in the art of war by Hamiicar, under whom he had 
£erired fevoral campaigns, the people in getieral entertained 
a high idea of him, though Hanno aqd his adherents afied'* 
ed to depre<»ate htjs merit Afdrubal anfwered their ex- 
pe£latiofiSy behaving with fuoh wifdom and addrcfs as en* 
abled him to fupport Hamilcar's friends both at Carthage 
and in the army. To fecure his predeceffor's acquintion69 
he built a city, which, by the advantage of its (ituation, the 
comnfiodioufnefs of its harbours, its fortificati9ns, and im^^ 
menf^ wealthy which it6 geeat commerce produced, became 
afterwards one of the moftconfiderable cities in the wodd ; 
iorsit people at that time called it the New City, others Car- 
thage : it is known at this day by the name of Carthagena, 
from whence one of the principal fortrefies of the Spaniards 
in ithe Weft-Indies at prefeixt-is fo called '^^ 

T^he Romans, receiving intelligence of the great progrefs TAegnat 
the Carthaginians ihade in Spain, kept a watchful eye upon Pj^^x^^^fs of 
them. They imagined that botfh Hamilcar and AlUi-ubal had ,{%p^i, 
foflBething more grand in view than theredu£l;ion of Spain, cketkedh 
and had foimed a remote defign, exteniive in its nature, the Ro- 
which they propofed gradually putting in execution* They ««r/» 
were notlo'Sg at a lofs to find but whom this muft be level- 
led at, eafily difcovering, that their republic was, of all . 
other ftates, the, moft diametrically oppoiite in point of 
views and intereft to that of tl\e Carthaginians. As they 
took it for granted that their rivals never loft fight of their 
grand fchtoie, though the execution of it might be at fome 
diftance, they reproached themfelves for their indolence and 
(loth, which had thrown them into a kind of lethargy ; for 
the Carthaginians now, with the utmoft rapidity, pufticd 
on their conqueftsin Spain, which might one day be turned 
agftinft the Romans. They however, at this junAure, feem-^ 
ed afraid of coming to an open rupture with them, on ac-* 
count of the apprehenfions they were under of an invalion 
from the Gauls, who, according to common fame, weVe 
advancing ^ith a formidable army to the gates of Rome4 
At preient therefore they judged it expedient to have re* 

m Liv. Polyb. Diod. Sic. Appaft* Corn. Nep. Eutrop, Frontin. 
Orof. & Zonar. ubi lup. « Liv. Pol)b. Diod. Sic & Appian. 

ubi fupra* 

Vol. XV, T f couife 



434 ^^ J^ft<^ of ^^^ Carthaginiam. 

courfe to milder methods ; and partly by menaces, and partly 
Yr. of FI4 by perfuafion) prevailed upon Afdrubal to conclude a new 
»'l*; treaty with them, importing, i. That the Carthaginians 
Aate Chr. f^^^\^ ^^^ .p^fg the Iberus. 2. That Saguntum, a colony 
' of Zacynthians, and a city between the Iberus and that part 
of Spain fubje£l to the Carthaginians, as well as the other 
Greek colonies, ihould enjoy their ancient rights and privi- 
leges. The Saguntines afforded the Romans a pretext for 
this interpofition, as they implored the prote£tion of Rome; 
which republic they heard was fuperior in power to that of 
Carthage* Zonaras intimates, that about this time the Car- 
thaginians had formed a defign of attacking the Romans, 
but were by that people intimidated from putting their de- 
fign in execution. Afdrubal did not pafs beyond the limits 
ftipulated by the treaty, though he ftill puflied on his con- 
queftsy and fubdued all that part of Spain extending from 
the weftern ocean to the Iberus, within five days journey 
of the Pyrenees. He made it his endeavour to render himfe^ 
popular amongft the reguli of , Spain by his engaging addrefs 
and affable deportment. His endeavours were not unfnc- 
cefsful ; for by his perfuafive methods he brought them over 
to the intereft of Carthage. He did not fail, however, ex- 
erting himfelf fometimes in a military way, though the other 
was in' general the moft effectual. Having governed the 
Carthaginian dominions in Spain eight years, he was trea- 
cheroufly murdered by a Gaul, whofe mailer he had put to 
death. The murder was perpetrated in public : the affaflin 
being feized by the guards, and put to the torture, ezpreffed 
fuch fatisfa£lion in the thoughts of his having executed his 
revenge, that he fecmed infenfible of torment. This acci- 
dent, however, notwith (landing the youth of Hannibal, oc- 
cafioned no alteration in the (late of affairs «• 
Jlfdrsttal Afdrubal, three years before his death, had written to 
^S^^tLi Carthage, to defire tibat Hannibal, then twenty-two years 
of age, might be fent to him. Hanno, the inveterate enemy 
of the Barcinian family, oppofed this requefl with all his 
power, in a fpeech to the fenate. *' Afdrubal (faid be) ac- 
companied Hamilcar in his expeditions, fpent the flower of 
his youth with him, and was abufed by him \ and now he 
would have yoiiog Hannibal in the fame marmer fubfervient 
to his lud. This young man inherits all the pride and ar- 
bitrary difpoGtion of the Barcinian family. Inftead of put- 
ting him at the head of the army, where he will be in fome 
meafure mafter of all our properties, ^e ought to be kept 
vnder the eye of the magidrates and the power of the laws. 

* Idem ibid, ut U Zonar. ubi fuprai cap. 19. 

*^ • Hence 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 435 

Hence he will learn obedience, and a humility which will 
teach him to look upon himfelf as on a level with other men.'* 
He concluded with obferving, that this fpark might one 
day rife to a conflagration, which WQuld occafion the ruin 
of the republic. However, the Barcinian fa<9;ion prevailed, 
and Hannibal was fent to the army in Spain. 

Hannibal, upon his firft arrival in the camp, difcovcred Hamihat ^ 
indications of extraordinary courage and greatnefs of mind. '^^KyM^'" 
He drew upon himfelf the eyes of the whole army, who tke^tr^o^ 
fancied they fawHamilcar his father furvive in him. From ^ 
his firft appearance in the army, every one perceived that 
he meditated a war againft the Romans, which was confi- 
dered as the cffeft of his father's difpofition. The great re- 
femblance he bore to Hamilcar rendered him extremely 
agreeable to the troops. Every talent and qualification he 
feemed to poifefs, that can contribute towards forming the 
great man. His patience in labour was invincible, his tem* 
perance furprifing, his courage in the greateft dangers in- 
trepid, his prefence of mind in the heat of battle admirable, 
and his difpofition equally fuited to command or obey. 
Thefe qualities rendered him the darling both of the officers 
and foldiers. Under Aidrubnlhemade three.campaigns: that 
general always employed him in enterprizes of the greateft 
importance, thinking him the heft qualified for the execu- 
tion of important defigns. The foldiers likewife repofed 
the utmoft confidence in him, efteeming him fuperior to all 
the other commanders in condu£i and perfonal bravery, 
though he was then but in the twenty-third year of his age. 
In (hort, after AfdrubaFs death, the army immediately fa- 
luted him general, with the higheft demonftrations of joy, . 
and the fincereft attachment to his perfon. The fenate alfo, 
as well as .people of Carthage, confirmed this election ; 
though it muft be owned Hanno and his fa£):ion were fe- 
cretly averfe to his promotion. He had no fooner taken 
upon him the command of the troops, being then in the 
twenty-fixth year of his age, than he made the proper di& 
pofitions for profecuting the war with vigour, having the 
fatisfa£kion to find all the officers approve of the plan of 
operations he propofed p. . 

As the fuffrages both of the army and republic concurred E^^ed gi' 
to raife Hannibal to the fupreme command upon the death *f''^' ^^^ 
of Afdrubali he muft have been extremely popular at Car- g/jr^^^^ 
tfiage* It is therefore probable that, about the time of his ^^U 
being elected general, or foon after, to heighten his credit 
and authority, he was advanced to the firft dignity of the 

p Liv. Polyb. Aurel. Vi6t« & Corn. Nep. ubi fup^ 

r f 2 ftate. 



^36 The tliftory of theCarthagmanu 

ftate, thsit of one of the fuiFetcs^ which was fomctimes cof»« 
ferred upon generals. In fupport of this opinion, Corne- 
lius Nepos informs os, that Hannibal was cfaofen pi^tor of 
Carthage, upon the conclufion of the fecond Punic war, 
twenty-two years after he had been nominated king .in that 
city; which brings that erent pretty near the period we are 
now upon* 
HMnnihal Hannibal bad no fooner afiiimed the oommand of the 
'Ik^r forces, than be put himfelf in motion. As if Italy bad been 
€Mlit ' ^^^ province allotted him, and he had been appointed to 
make war upon the Romans, he fiscretly turned his whole 
views to that country. Though he was determined to at- 
tack Saguntam,'he thought it at prefent more expedteilt not 
to feem to have an eye dirc£lly upon tbat^place, but to re- 
duce fome provinces that would facilitate the conqoeft of 
it : nor did he think that the Romans could from 'thence 
penetrate his defigns. Accordingly be marched againft the 
Olcades, a nation feated near the Iberns, and foon rednct^ 
Aithsea, their capital ; upon which their other towns im- 
mediately Submitted. All the plunder taken in this expe- 
dition he diftributed amongft the troops, and then retired 
to New Carthage, where he put them into winter^quai lers. 
Here he foon after paid the army all their arrears \ a cir- 
cumftance which fo endeared him to the foldiers, that he 
had them abfolutely at his devotion.. This firfl: inftance of 
fuccefs rendered his name terriblt to the neighbouring na- 
tions of Spain, who were not in:a ftate of amity with'Car- 
tha^e ^- 
mndthe The next campaign opened with the fiege of Herman- 

Facc^'u dica, which he reduced. Theft he advanced to Arbacala, 
which being a place of great llrength, very populous, and 
defended by a numei-ous garrifon, made a vigorous refin- 
ance ; but was at lad forced to furrender. Soon after this 
event, fome fugitives, who had made their efcape out of 
Hcrmandica, joining ^ body of the Olcades, excited the 
Carpetanii one of the* moil powerful nations in Spain, to 
declare againft the Carthaginians. Their army amounted 
to a hundred thoufand fighting*mcn,'with which they pro- 
pofed to attack Hannibal in his rettrn from the country of 
' ~ the Vaccsei, which it feems he fubdded this campaign, gra- 
dually drawing nearer the point he had in view* 

Hannibal, being informed of the enemy's defigti, and 
knowing himfelf inferior to them, was determined toavoid 
a battle. 'He encamped upon the barAs of the Tag«s, bis 
troops being fatigued with long marches, and loaded with 

^ Polyb. lib. iii. Uvi^ 4ib. xxi. Ikb iait* 

- . ijjolis. 



^'hi WJhry of the' Carthaginians* 4^ff 

fpoils. When the enemy were afleep^ he>pafle<l the river 
in a place where it was mofti fordabje. The Spaniards, in- 
terpreting this motion intoa flight, immediately refolvedto' 
purfue him ; and^ in confex|uctice of this refoiution, threw 
tbemfelveftintathe river, without- order oi Aifbipline. Hian-* 
nibal had forefeen what wouJd. happen, and difpofed his* 
army in a proper manner to. attack them. TFhe horfe he or- 
dcred: to g^iard the ford, on both. Gdes, to a cjertain diftance,' 
and poftedf them in the water for that? purpofe. The ihore' 
was defended on> his fide by. foitty eiephants, all placed- in 
tliefirft line^^ and behind tbom. the Carthaginian infantry 
were drawn up in battalia. The Spanifh foot, therefore^ Yr. of FL 
being obliged to fight in the water with horfemen, who were «i42. 
above, and flanked them,' could make But a faint refiftance; ■^'^^^ ^^^ 
and even thofe who reached the oppofite bank were imm^e- ^^ ' 
diately trodden undcr-foot by the elephants. Hannibal' in- f/fpiues 
ftantly repajSed the £ocd, andieljupan the enemy'^ troops, the hpa-^ 
which were eafily routed* Great numbers of the Spaniards niards a 
were either cut to pieces or drowned. Hannibal, after this g^^^^^*^^^ 
Tifljoiiyy.defolatedthe whole country of the (Carpetani, who, S^'u^l^^ 
terrified by fa gr^at a dofeat, thoaght proper to fubmit to c^rpetanu 
the cohqiueror. Nothing now remained but Sagkintum, to '' ' 
give any.obftruftton ta dbe Carthaginian.armsi ' ' k 

« The ganeral, however^ thought the f^fon. was npt yet Andmedt" 
arrived for laying fiegeto that city; and, therfifore) did not* '^ff't^e 
fbr.fowne titne, approach it, careftillyi avoidiaagi every thing •''^^'^' ''''^* 
that might, occafion a rupture with the Romatns; Hss in* 
teiiciijn was, to furnlfb himfelf with all things neceffary, 
befoDe he emteced upon, the Important cnbeq^rize he had 
formed: Wt, at laft, he puihed his conquefts to the v^ry . 
gates of Saguntum, and by his fingular addrefs, took care 
to fectire t^efe. conquefts, before he gave the Romans an 
opportunity of declaring war againft the Garthagtnians. * 

/In the mean time the S4guntine8, bein^g^e^dy alarmed ThtSagun- 
at the rapid progrefs of HannibaPs arms, did not know '"*f^^pp(jh 
how to avoid the impendmg ftorm any o^herwife than- by ^^nsfyr 
applying to the Romans fat fpeedy relief* They therefore relief* 
(iifpatched deputies to Rx>me, to inform the.fenate o£ M3n«- 
nibal's fuccefs in Spain, and to defire immediate fuccours 
againfl? him. What kind o£ reception they met with, has 
been alneady related in the Roman hiftory. 

In the mean time Hannibal found means to embroil fome Hatmibal 
of the neighbouring cantons, efpecially the Turdetani, or, ^'/<?'' ^^* 
according to Appian, the TorbolBt3?, with the Saguatines. ^''*'**' 
This ftep he took, in order to furnifli himfelf with a pretext 
to attack th^ir capital city. He promifed himfelf many ad- 
vantages from the reduftlon of that place. He was con- 

F f 3 vinced. 



4)8 Tie Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 

vinced, that it would deprive the Romans of all mea^ of 
carrying the war into Spain ; that this new conqueft would 
ferve a$ a barrier to the places already fubdued; that no ene- 
my would be left behind him ; and that he ihould obtain 
treafure fufficient to defray the expence of his proje&ed war 
iiath the Romans. He alfo confidered, that the plunder of 
the city would infpire his ,troops with greater ardour, and 
even bring the people of Carthage themfelves over entirely 
to his meafures. Thefe confiderations excited him to under- 
take the fiege of Saguntum, and make an effort to carry 
the place before the Romans could take any ftep towards 
^ its relief '• 

SEC T. VII. 

fhe m/iory of the Carthaginians j from the Beginning of 
the fecond Punic War, to the Redu£iion of Capua by 
Hannibal. 

fht rtmofg 'npHE conful Lutatius, at the concluGon of the firft Punic 
^**r^ ^ war, behaved with great infolence to Hamiicar Barcas. 

*Pum Heinfifted. that the Carthaginian troops, under his com- 

^ar. mand, fhould deliver up their arms to theHomans, and 

even pafs under the jugum. This rigour infpired the Car- 
thaginian general with an irreconcilable enmity \o the Ro-« 
mans. Nothing could have been more inconfiftent with 
true magnanimity and greatnefs of foul, than fuch a con- 
duct, and confequently more difagreeable to a perfon of 
heroic and generous fentiments. Hamiicar therefore deeply 
reCented an infult fo atrocious in its nature, and detefted 
the people by. whom it was countenanced. 

lie likewife condemned himfelf for having fo tamely 
given up Sicily to the Romans : he refleded, with the ut^ 
moft regret, upon that a£tion, which, in every light, he 
confidered as diihonourable and precipitate. This reflexion 
undoubtedly excited him to meditate revenge upon that 
nation, which had been the fource of his difgrace, and con- 
fequently determined him to embrace the firft opportunity 
of attacking the Romans ^ . . . 

But what the moft e£Fe£lualIy contributed to the war we 
are going to enter upon, was the injuftice of the Romans, 
who, taking advantage of the weaknefs of the Carthagi- 
nians, after the conclufion of the Libyan war, difpofiefled 
that nation of Sardinia, and extorted from them a great funa 

r Liv,. & Polyb. ubi fup. Orof. ubi fup. cap. 14. ]^i|trop, Ub. iii* 
cap. 7. • ?olyb, lib. iii. Liv* xxi. Xub in^t. 



* 

Tbi Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 439 

of money ^ The fuccefs of the Carthaginians in Spain like* 
\)irife increafed the animofity betwixt the two ftates, and 
confequently difpofed both of them to a rupture. The train 
therefore of a bloody conteft betwixt them was laid before 
the fiege of Saguntum. 

The Saguntines were a colony, partly of the Zacynthians, fh Car" 
and partly of the Rutuli from the city of Ardea. They foon '^^»«w 
grew immenfely rich, the province in which they were J^ ^ ^ 
leated being extremely fertile. Their city was fituatcd on /i^^^ 
the Carthaginian fide of the Iberus, about a mile from the 
fea, near a ridge of mountains, which feparated Spain from 
Celtiberia, and in a country where, by the late treaty, the 
Carthaginians were permitted to make war, though this 
city was^exprefIy excepted from all hoflilities. . As foon as 
Hannibal approached their frontiers, he detached a party 
to ravage the adjacent territory, and then made a difpofi- 
tion to attack Saguntum in three places at once. With his 
battering-engines he attempted to beat down the wall, 
whilft his troops were kept in readinefs to ftorm the city, 
when the breach became prafticable. The Saguntines de- 
fended themfelves with inexprcffible bravery, making fre- 
quent failles upon the befiegers> and deftroying abundance 
of thpr men. But the afTailants were fcarce fenfible of this 
lofs, Hannibal's army confiRing of an hundred a,nd fifty 
thpufand foot, and twenty thoufand horfe. . The befieged 
hoWever fu£Fered extremely in thefe aSions, lofing as many 
foldiers as the Carthaginians ; a circumflance which ren- 
dered their condition almoft defperate. But their fate was 
for fome time refpited, by a wound Hannibal received in 
his thigh from a dart, as he was reconnoitring fome of the 
works. This occafioned fuch a confternation amongft his 
troops, thjTt the enemy were upon the point of making 
thetnfelves mafters of all his military machineSi Till the 
wound was cured, a kind of ceflation of arms took place^r 
though the befiegers ftill maintained their pofts, carried on' 
their approaches, and completed their works. After Han* 
nibal's recovery, hoflilities recommenced with double fury, 
the Saguntines oppofing the enemy with undaunted refolu- 
tion, and Hannibal puftiing on his attacks with the utmoft 
vigour. At laft the befiegers, after having laid a great part, 
otthe wall level with the ground, and demoliflied three 
towers, by which the body of the place lay entirely expofed^ 
made an aflfault with unparalleled bravery. The befieged, 
on the other hand, confidering, that every thing valuable to 
them lay at ftake, exerted themfelves in an extraordinary 

t Val. Max. lib. ix« cap. )• 

F f 4 manner. 



J 



4^ 



7ht Rb* 
mans ex- 

pr>fiulate 
v/ith Halt' 
nibal and 
the Car- 
thaginia»s» 



Hannibal 
carries on 
hrijkly the 
Jlege of 
Saguntums 



77re ffifiory of the CarthaginianT. 

manner. They drew up thcrr forces in order of'teRHe m 
the fpace betwixt the ruins of the walls and the town, arfd 
difputed every inch of ground with fiich refolution, that 
the place where the engagement 'enfued was covered with 
dead bodies. In Ihort, hope and delpair fo animated the 
contending parties, that the greateft efforts were made 
on each fide. However, at laft defpair prevailed, the Sa- 
guncines forcing the Carthaginians not only to abandon the 
breach, but to take refuge in .their camp. Livy fays, that 
a kind of -dart or miffive weapon, called falarica (L), was of 
fingular fervice to the Saguntines: on this occafion ". 

It appears from Zonaras and other Hftorians, that, in 
purfuance of the refolution above-mentioned, the Romans 
fent deputies to Hannibal at hi& camp before Sagiintum* 
According to thefe authors, Hannibal avoided giving them 
audience, and that in a refilled politic manner. He em- 
ployed certain Spaniards, id whom he could confide, to 
meet the Roman minifters at fome diftance from his camp. 
They were inftrufted to accoft the Romans as friends, and 
to inform them, that it would be dangerous to approach 
the Carthaginian army, upon account of the barbarous na- 
tions of which it was compofed. Livy and Pblybius do not 
entirely agree in this point ; but we fhall not take upon us 
to determine which of them has truth on his Cde^. 

After the late repulfe, Hannibal, finding his troops 
greatly fatigued, remained for fome days in a ftate of in- 

tt Liv. &Polyb. ubi fup. Eutrop. lib/tii. cap. 7. Sil. Ital.'Kb. L 
Plut. & Aur. Vi£l. in Hanmb. ■ v Diod. Sic. lib. xxy. in^- 

cerpt. Rhodoman. & Hcefchd. Zonut* uba fup^ cap. &i« Paul* 
Qrof. lib. iv. cap. 14. Eatrop, ubi fup. 



(L) The falatjca was a kitid 
of dart, difcharged by the par« 
ties poiled in wooden towers, 
upon the enemy. Thefe wxx)den 
towers were called false ; fo that 
t]ke weapon undoubtedly deriv- 
ed its name from thofe ma- 
chmes. Towards the end, it 
had a fquare piece of iron, 
bound about with tow, befroear- 
cd with pitch. The iron head, 
rcfcmbling that of the Roman 
jMlum or javelin, was three 
fett long, that it might be ca- 
])Hble of penetrating the ilrong- 
eft armour, and, through it, of 



doing* execution. As the com- 
buflibie part of it was fet oa 
fire before it was difcharged 
upen the enemy, and this fire 
muft have been greatly increaf- 
ed by the air fanning it in its 
motion, it could not fail to do 
mifchief, and ftrike terror. This 
dart was fometimes difcharged 
out of the ballifta with "^ an in- 
conceivable force, and did not 
only deHroy men, but likewiib 
frequently confumed the ene- 
mies wooden towers^ at whicU 
it was levelled ( I )• 



(0 Liv. lib. ixi. iEnn. ap. f eft. in Voc. Falarica." 



a^iont 



A<fl:io&, but poflied guards to defend Ms works ami ma*- 
chines from all s^ttempts of thc'encntj. In the meaot tinae^' 
he endeavoured to raife their courage* by infpixing theBib 
'With a deteAatioa> of the Saguntines ; by promifiug tbenar 
great rewards, if t bey did their duty y and kftly, by afitxr*^ 
img th«m of the plunder of the place, in cafe it ibould be 
taken by ftorm. The garrifon likewife kept quiet withisK 
the town, and took the opportunity of this , cefla^ion of 
arms to etefk a new wall' opposite to the bueach the Carkha* 
ginians had made. Hannibal's troops, aaimated by. the 
hopes of (harinrgjhe plunder of the town, made a vigorous 
attack, being encouraged by their general, who had placed 
himfclf on the top of a moveable tower, which overlooked 
the works of thebeficged, and the whole city. In fliort^ 
Hannibal, having cleared the breach pf the foldiers ppfted 
for its defence, and demotifhed the new wall, by the aiiift«4 
ance of five hundred Africans appointed to undermine itf 
entered the town without oppoGtion^ Then he poife(S»i 
himfelf of an eminence near the citadel, round which he 
drew a line of circum valla tion. The S^uotines howevee 
dklall that could be expefked from men animated by de« 
fpair. They built a new wall to fupport that part of the 
city, which the enemy had not yet made themfelves maw 
fters of; they difptfted every inch of grouad with the ut-* 
moft bravery ; and repulfed th/£ befiegers in many attacks* 
However, being in want of provifions, they found them- 
felves reduced to great extremities, efpeciaily as they;had 
no profpefk of foreign afiiftancc, the BLomans feeming to 
have entirely deferted them. About thi& time, ^Hannibal * 
undertook an expedition againft theCarpetani and Oretani,' 
who ihewed a difpofition to (hake off the Carthaginian yoke. 
1*he befieged, however, did not reap any great advantages ,. 
from thia^diverfion, fince Mahcrbal, the fon of Hlmilcoy 
whom Hannibal left to command the forces before Sagjim^? 
turn in his abfence^ puHied on the fiege with unremitting 
▼iffour.. He battered the new wall with his rams, and made 
a Targe breach in it. Hannibal therefore, upon his return,, 
immediately ftormed the citadel. After a warm difpute, 
he poflefled himfelf 6f one part of it f the Saguntines, witb 
grCfit difficulty, maintaining thcmfelves in the other. 

Whilft affairs were in this melancholy fituation, Alcon,; and takes 
a Saguntine, went privately by night to the Carthaginian it. 
camp. Here, by his tears,and fupplications, he endeavour-* 
6d to move Hannibal's compaflion towards the unhappy 
citizens of Saguntum. He could howcvef make no im- 
P^efiion upon tfea^, geq^ral. The conditions he infifted up- 
on were \ that they fliould give ample faiisfadion to the 

Tur- 



44 1 Tie Hifitny of the Carthaginians. 

Turdetatii ( that they (bould deliver up all their weakh to 
the Carthaginians ; and that they ihould retire, with only 
the cloaths they wore, to the place the Carthagiaians 
ihoold aifign for their habitation. Thefe conditioris ap- 
peared fo intolerable to Alcon, that he durft not pr(4x>fe 
them to the garrifon of Saguntum ; and therefore remained 
in Hannibal's camp. But Alorcus, a Spaniard, then in the 
Carthaginian fervice, undertook to con? ey the Carthaginian 
general's propofals to the inhabitants of that unfortunate 
city. This talk he performed, endeavouring, at the fame 
time to prevail upon that unhappy people to embrace them. 
But they were fb harfli, that the Saguntines reje^ed them 
itrith difdain. Thus driven to defpair, the fenators brought 
all their gold, iilver, and precious efFe£ls, into the market- 
place, and cauiing a great fire to be kindled, threw their 
treafure and themfelves into the flames. At the fame time 
a tower, which had been battered by Hannibal's rams, fall* 
ing with a dreadful noife, the Carthaginians -entered the 
town by the breach, foon made themfelves mafters of it 
and the citadel, and cut to pieces all the inhabitants who 
were able to bear arms. Livy relates, that great numbers 
of the Saguntines, without di(lin£tion of fex or age, were 
maflTacred ''. According to Frontinus, HannibaU by a flra- 
tagem, drew the garrifon out of the town, and put them 
all to the fword. 
Tr. of Fl. Intelligence of the taking of Saguntum had fcarce reached 
Ante Chr. ^^^^^tl^y when ambaflfadors arrived from Rome, demand- 
205. ' ing of the fenate and people, whether the Spanifli expedi- 
■ tion had been undertaken by their order, or Hannibal, con- 

^he R9' trary to their approbation, had been the fole author of that 
J?**'/'**' invafion. One of the Carthaginian fenators, by order of 
baffatUrsto ^^ fcnate, endeavoured to vindicate Hannibal's condud^ 
Carthagi. Of rather that of the republic, on this occafion. He made 
very flight mention of the laft treaty Afdrubal had con- 
cluded with the Romans, only endeavouring to draw a pa- 
rallel betwixt it and the peace granted the Carthaginians 
by the conful Lutatius after the battle off the iflands I£r* 
gades. He inflded, that as the fenate and people of Rome 
had taken the liberty to infert fome additional articles in 
that treaty, fo the Carthaginian fenate and people had an 
equal right to make what alterations they thought proper in 
that which Afdrubal had concluded with the Romans. He 
farther acquainted them, that the Carthaginians were not 
ftrangers to the ambitious defigns of their republic ; and 
that they might enter upon the execution of them as foon 

X Polyb. Liv. Jul. Frontin. Strat, lib, iii, cap* lo* Corn. Nep. in 
Hanolbal. 



/ 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians, 4.4^ 

as theypleafed, without giving any concern or uneiafinefs' 
to his (late. In (hort) he aifured them, that the fenate and 
people> not with (landing the efforts of Hanno and his fac« 
tion, were of the fame fentiments with Hannibal, in rela- 
tion to the aiFair of Saguntum, and entirely approved of his 
condu£l. Upon which Q^Fabius, the (enior of the era- 
baiTy, declared war againd the Carthaginians, in the man* 
nor already related by us^ in a former part of this work. 

Appian intimates^ that Hannibal, in order to provide for Hannibai 
his own fafety, was obliged to attack the Saguntines, and undtrtakn 
pjoceed to hoftilities with the Romans. Notwithftanding-'/^w^tftfr. 
h/e wasele£led general by the army after the death of Af» 
drubal, and had his eledtion confirmed by the fenate and- 
people of Carthage, yet, according to this author, Hanno's 
fa£lion, taking advantdge of his youth, endeavoured to in« 
fpire the giddy populace with fentiments to his prejudice. 
His friends, perceiving the wicked fuggeftions of that fac- 
tion beginning in a (hort time to operate, apprifed him of 
it, that he might exert himfelf, in order to promote their in- 
tfireft, and consequently his own. Thefe intrigues Hanm-- 
bal had forefeen j and, being fenfible that, whatever attacks 
feemed levelled at his friends, were principally intended: 
againft him, he thought that the only expedient to prevent 
civil difTenfions, and hinder Hanno's infinuations from mak-^ 
ing any imprefGon upon the minds of the populace to his 
difadvantage, would be to enter upon a war with Rome. 
An €ntcrprize of fuch importance, he very well knew, 
would engage the public attention, and of courfe greatly 
contribute towards (lifiing the cabals and fchemes that 
might have been formed againfl him, efpecially as the ge« 
nerality, both of the fenate and people, were eagerly bent 
upon fuch a war« Befides, the fears and anxieties arifintg 
in their minds for the fuccefs of an Italian expedition, 
would naturally render them cautious of changing hands at 
home. Appian mentions this as one of the motives that 
induced Hannibal to befiege Saguntum v which may pof&r 
])ly be true : but we ipuft own, that neither Polybius not 
Livy take any notice of it. That another motive, as the 
£r(l author relates, was a defire to immortalize his namci 
will be granted by all, who conCder the genius of that gc» 
neral, as defcribed by the beft writers : but whatever might 
urge him to the (iege above mentioned, he met with a cou- 
rage and refolution in the Saguntines worthy of himielf. 
After a mod gallant defence, they fell in the manner al- 
ready related ; the very women from the ' ramparts, with 
aftoni(hing intrepidity, beholding the (laughter of their huf- 
li^ands and relationsj and mafiacring all the children that 

had 



4L44 ^^ Miftory of- the Cartha^lmms. 

bad cftraped' the flfeime$i to prevent their falling into the 
cnemy'^ hands. Some writers infinuate, that, before the 
laft faWys *be Saguntines melted lead with their gold- and 
filvcfj imagining that fuch a mixed mafs could not be of 
any^ gvc'^tt fervice to the Carthaginians. The Carthaginian 
general did not think proper to dcftroy the city, but tranf- 
pboted thither a colony from Carthage. Thus the Sagun- 
tines, after a fiege of eight months, fell a facrifice to ttan- 
nibaKs refentment, being marked out for deftruftion, for 
their fingular fidelity and attachment to th^ Romans ^. 
ne It»- The Carthaginians, or at lead the Bafcihian fa£lion, re- 

mans at- coived* the Roman declaration of war from Fabius with 
tempt to niai»k& ©f joy and acclamation. They affared him they 
^rflwM/ «^Q||y. carry it on with the utmoft vigour and alacrity-, and 
off from the wwifce every effort to revenge the repeated extortions, the fi- 
Carthagi' niAer dcfigns, the unjuft invafions, and the haughty beha- 
nian intt' yiour of his republic. In confequence of this ftep, Fabius 
''^* and his companions returned, taking Spain in their way, as 

they had been ordered by the fenate. Upon their arrivaHn 
tha*co»ntry, they endeavoured to draw the Spaniards who 
were fybje^ to Carthage from their allegiance, to detach 
the allies of that ftate from its intereft, and to enter into an 
aHiance with as many of the Spanifii nations as were dif- 
pofed to accept either the friend ftiip or proteftion of the 
Roman republic. The Bargufii, being defirous of ffiaking 
off the- Carthaginian yoke, gave the Romari ambaffadorsa 
kind reception ; which influenced many other neighbour- 
ing cantons. Bac this fucceft was not lading ; -for the 
Volfciani, upon Fabius's application to them, made him tins 
fevere reply : •* With what face can you, Romans, offer to 
felioit u« to ppefer your friendfiiip to that of the'Carthagi- 
nian&y fince your treachery to the brave SaguntineSj who 
wcpe your allies^ exceeded even the cruelty of that barba-' 
roue enemv who dcftroyed them ?^ Seek for allies where 
the fate ot Saguntum is not known : the de(tru£lion of 
that city will ferve for a perpetual Icffon to the people of 
SpdiA) to take care hdw they ever ropofe any confidence in 
the Romans.*' The ambaffadors, being commanded to leave 
th«* territories of the Volfciani, found themffelves obliged to 
retire from Spain, without accomplifliing their defign. 
Neither did they meet with greater fuccefs in Gaul ; for, 
when they dcfired the Gauls to refufc the Carthaginians a 
pafl^ge through their country into Italy, they could by no 
meaner prevail upon thent to grant their requeft. (liannibai 

4 

. y Diod. Sic. lib xxv. in Bxcerpt, Rhodom.^n. Hcpfebel. A|ipi<^a 
*n Ibcric Vide & Polyb. Liv. Zonar. ub» fupra. Eutrop. lib. iii- 
e»p. 7* I*l«t< in Hannib. . Pctron. Arbit. in Satyric, 

had 



The Hi^ory of the Qmh^niam^ ,^4^ 

4iQ<il befoifeprepoflTefled themin favour of the Carthaginisms; 
a taik which he found no difEculty in performing) they 
^having) on various accounts, conceived an averfion to thie 
Romans ^. 

After the reduction of Saguntum, Hannibal put his Afri- Hannibal 
can troops into winter-quarters at New Caxthage; h\xX. putshotk 
.permitted the Spaniards, in order to gain their affection, to ^^«f* *5^ 
retire to their refpeftive habitations. During the winter, ^^['^f '*'* 
he remained In a ftate of inadion j but made feveral %'^m. 
*vcry wife regulations for the fecurity of the Carthaginian 
•dominions bbth in Spain and Africa. He tranfported into 
Africa, for the defence of that country, a body of Spaniards, 
con&fling of Tberfitse, Mailiani, and Olcades, amountii)g 
to twelve hundred horfe, and thirteen thoufand eight h^in- 
dredand fifty foot; to which were added fome companies 
raifed in the Balearic iilands. Thefe he placed chiefly in 
.the provinces of Metagonium, and city of Carthage. He 
•pofted four thoUfand Metagonita: likewife in Carthage, not 
^nly to defend that mftropolis, but likewife to ferv6' as 
hoftages for the good -behaviour of their countrymen. The 
African corjiSj/deftined to a£l in Spain under the command 
of Afdrubal, was compofed of four'hondred and fifty Afri- 
can and Libyphcenician cavalry, eleven thoufand eight hun- 
dred and fifty Mailylian, Maflkfylian, Macian, and Mauri- 
•tanian foot, befidcs three hundred Lorgitx, eighteen hun- 
dred Numidians, three hundred Ligurians> five hundred Ba- 
-learic^ilingers, and above twenty elephants. Thefe parti- 
^culars, Polybius tells us, he extracted from fome tables or 
reqofds of copper, engraved by Hannibal himfelf when in 
rlt^iy, and depofited at Lacinium. After fuch a prudent 
difpofition, which had a natural tendency to render, both 
•Spain and Africa entirely dependent on Carthage, as well 
»as more clofely to cement the people of thofe countries by . 
fmutual bonds of friendfhip, he made the necefiary .prepara- 
.tions to pafs the Iberus : but before he attempted this paf« 
(fage, he judged it expedient to gain the Cifalpine 'Gauls 
'Over to his intereft, that he might not ouly have a free route 
•through their country, but likewife receive a reinforcement 
from that people. This fchettie he efFefted, partly by dif- 
tributing fome gold amongft their chiefs, and partly by 
•heightening their averfion to the Romans. Having re- 
ceived intelligence, that the Gauls were ready to join him, 
after having made his vows to. Hercules, at Gades, for the 
Ifuccefe -of his etxpedition, he immrediately prepared for 
aSion. 

s-Llv. Folyb. & Zonar. ubi fupra* 

Having 



446 ^f ayioty of the CarthagtHtanSt 

jilg re- Having completed his military preparations, and got CTer^ 

workable thing in readinefs for the intended expedition, he moVed 
dnam early in the fpring» out of his winter-quarters, advancing at 
the nead of all his forces to EtouifTa, and from thence to the 
Iberus. Here he is faid to have been encouraged by dreams 
and omens to profecute his enterprize. Upon his paffing 
the river, feveral beafts, of a fpecies entirely unknown, 
likewife appeared, fceming to fhew the way to his troops. 
The Romans, about the fame time, were as greatly diC- 

Eirited by bad omens, as Hannibal found himfelf animated 
y happy prefages. An ox fpokc audibly with a human 
voice at Rome, juft before the commencement of this wan 
Another threw itfelf from the top of a houfe into the Ti- 
ber, and was drowned, during the public diverfions. Many 
places were (truck with lightning. Blood flowed from fe- 
veral ftatues, and from the ihield of one of the legionaries. 
And laftly, a wolf carried off a fword out of the camp *. 
Such portents have always dtilineuifhed the times of igno- 
rance and fuperftition, and been often rendered fubfervient 
to the purpofes of ambition and impofture. 
Hipujks Before Hannibal began the operations of the campaign, 
thi Ibifuti jjg thought it incumbent on him to infpire life and vigour 
into the foldiery. Nothing but that fpirit was now wanting, 
fince the fenate and people of Carthage, at the inftigation 
of Afdrubal, had given him aq unlimited commiilion, which 
left him full power to a£t as he (hould think proper for the 
good of the republic. In an harangue to his army, he des- 
canted upon the infolence of the Romans, who, be told 
them, had infifted upon his being delivered up to them, 
with all the general officers. He expatiated upon the wealth 
of Italy, which he reprcfented as one of the moft delightful 
countries on the face of the earth ; and aflured them that he 
had juil concluded a treaty with the Cifalpine Gauls, who had 
engaged to join him with a confiderable reinforcement, and 
fupply him with provifions and all necefTaries on his march. 
The foldiers, animated by this fpeech, loudly proclaimed 
their confidence in* his condu£l, and declared that they 
would follow him wherever he (hould think proper to lead 
the way. Finding it therefore time to enter upon a£lion, 
he reviewed his army* confiding of ninety thoufand foot, 
and twelve thoufand horfe, befides a number of elephants | 
imJfuh' and then, without the leaft obflruftion, pafTed the Iberus \ 
dues all the The Ilergetes and Bargufii were the firfl cantons he obliged 
tiations be* ^q fubmit to the Carthaginians, and foon after he reduced 

twtxt that ° 

thtPvre* » Liv. ubi fupra- Zonar. lib. viii. cap. i%. Val. Maxim, fib. L 
^g^f * cap. 7. *» i-iv. Polyb. & Zoriar. ubi fupra. 

the 



l[he Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 447 

the ^renoGi and Aufetanii people whofe territories extend- 
ed to the Pyrenees. Neverthelefs, as he took feveral towns 
by fbrcei thefe conquefts coil him abundance of men. Be- 
fore he proceeded farther on his march) he conftituted 
Hanno governor of the country betwixt the Pyrenees and 
the Ibei^us, which included the territory of the Bargufii, 
. enjoiiiiing him to keep a watchful eye on that people. Their 
former condod): gave him reafon to fufped, that ilill thej 
were fecretly attached to the Romans. To fupport Hanno 
in his new poft, he left him a body of ten thoufand foot, 
and a thoufand horfe. In order to ingratiate himfelf with 
the Spaniards, he difmiifed the like number of them to their 
refpe^^ive habitations, and gave the greateft encouragement 
to thofe that continued in the Carthaginian fervice. This 
plan of condu£l: he purfued> that he might be the more 
readily fupplied with what recruits he (houid want in Italy. 
Upon a mufter of his forces, after they were weakened by 
fieges, defertion, and mortality, he found them to amounjt 
to fifty thoufand foot, and nine thoufand horfe, all veteran 
troops. As they had left all their heavy baggage with Han- 
no, and were light^armed, Hannibal eafily crofTed the. Py- 
renees, paued by Rufcino, a frontier town of the Gauls, 
and arrived on the banks of the Rhone without oppofition ^. 

For fome time however he was retarded in his march by Ht ad" 
the jealoufy of the Gauls. That nation, hearing that the 'vancesu 
Carthaginian army, then encamped at Illiberis, a city of f^^^ 
Gallia Narbonenfis, had reduced the country immediately ^^ ^^^* 
beyond the Pyrenees, and left ftrong garrifons to keep the 
natives in awct entertained vehement fufpicions of Hanni- 
bal : but upon his decamping fpeedily from Illiberis, giving 
them the itrongeft aflurances of his amicable intentions to- 
wards them, and making a few prefents to their reguli, they 
permitted him to continue his roate. Upon his approaching 
the banks of the Rhone, the greateft part of the Volcae (M), 
a nation inhabiting the tra£t contiguous to that river, with- 
drew, with all their efFe£is, to the oppofite bank, the other 
neighbouring Gauls being his friends, and giving him all 
the affiftance in their power. The Gaiils on the other fide^ 

< Liv. & Polyb* ubi fupra. 

(M) The Volca, or Volcse but had no pofleffions on the 

^ Aricomici, according to Strabo, other, as Livy here afferts. 

werea nation that inhabited the Nemaufus, the Nifmes of the 

country contigyous to one fide mod«rns, was their capital (i). 
of the Khodanus, or the Rhone ; 

(i) Strabo, lib. iii. p* 129. Mel* Plin. U Ptol* in Gal. 

taking 



^j^ The ffj/bry of the Carthi^midnt. 

^tJateEg umbrage at the approach of io f6roridabIe a poweff 
bad aiTembled all their forces, wttfa an intent to dtfpute die 
f aflage of the met. Hannibal finding it no where fordable 
in fight of the etaxBif^ began to be in pain for the fuecels 
iof the expedition : hot hb^od fortune ftill attendiiig lum, 
.he at laft carried his point by a ftratagem, and difperfed tfae 
Gallic forces in the manner ahrady related. After adJ, 
the gFeateft difficoky was, how (to trani^rt the elephants. 
Someai&rm, the ifol lowing expedient vifzs ufed for this pnr- 
tpofe : a float of timber two hundred feet long, and fifty 
^oad, was lannched into the river, quite co'vered with 
cai^ ; fo that the elephants, xleceived with this appearance, 
thought themfelres upon firm groond. From lihe firft float 
they proceeded to a fecond, which was bbilt in the fame 
ibrm, bat anVf a hundred feet long, and faftened to the 
iormer by chains, that were eafily loofened. The female 
elephants were placed upon the firft fcmt, and the xoales 
^followed. As foon as they got upon the fecond float, it 
"was loofened finomthe firft, and, by the help of fmall 'boats, 
-cowed to 'the oppofite fliore. It was then fent back to con- 
-vey *tfaoic which were left behind. Some elephants threw 
4behr guides, and plunged, into the water; but they at laft 
'got faTe to fliore ; fo that, out of forty-eight, not one 
^was drowned^ Others fay, that Hannibal ordered tbem 
to be drawn together on the bank of the rsrer^ when 
ione of the guides, by his direAion, having irritated the 
fierceft of them, leaped into the river, andfwam to the op- 
pdfitc'fide. I'he animal, being enraged, immediately roflted 
•into the water after him with the utmoft fury^ upon which 
vlltbe reft followed. Hannibal fpent five days in pzffing 
-the river, though great numbers of the Gauls, by their af- 
.fiftance, ^facilitated his paflage. The elephants were not 
wafted over« till the day after the defeat of the Gauls, who 
•attempted to difpute his palTage. Thefe particuhnrs, added 
•to thofe already related jn a former part of our hrftory, 
compofe an ample defcription of this remarkable atchieve- 
-ment \ - 

Uannihdl Whilft the elephants were croffing over, Hannibal dc- 
lontiituis tached five hundred Numidian horfe, to obtain intelligence 
hismar€hi q[ ^^^ enemy; who, he was informed," approached the 
banks of the Rhone with a powerful army, in order to give 
'himbatffe. Thefe falling in with a party of three hundred 
Roman and Gallic horfe, detached by Scipio upon the fame 
defign, a rencounter immediately enfued ; which, after a 

* Polyb. lib. ill. cap. 46, 47, Ltv. lib. xxi, cap. 31, 3t« Zonar. 
lib. ^iii* «^p. 23. p, 4j09^, 4k>. 

brifk 



The tiijlory tyfthe Carihdgmdni. 44^ 

Ibiriik difpute, terminated in favour of the Rom ans> though 
the lofs was pretty equal on both fidcs. ' As Hannibal had 
idrawn up his troops in Order of battle, and the Roman de- 
tachment purfued his cavalry to the carrip, Scipio wad foon 
acquainted with the difpofition of the Carthagiriiati army ; 
\vhich encouraged him to mpvc with expedition toward* 
Hannibal J in order to attack him. That general was, for 
fome time, in doubt, whether he (hould engage the Romans^ 
or continue his march for Italy 5 but was foon determined 
to proceed in his route, by the arrival of Magi! us, a prince 
of the Boil, who brought rich prefents with him, and of* 
fcred to conduft the (Jarthaginians over the Alps. That 
his troops might bear the fatigues of fo long and painful a 
march with the greater alacrity, Hannibal, the day before he 
began it, in the prefence of them all, gave an audience to Ma^* 
gil,us^ who aflured him by an interpreter, that his fubjefts ar- 
dently defircd to fee him. He farther aflured him, that 
both they, and the neighbouring Gauls, were ready to join 
bim upon his firft arrival amongft them •, that he hlmfelf 
Vi^ould t;^ke care to cortduft his army through places, where 
they (hould meet a plentiful fupply of ptovifions \ and that 
be would foon bring them fafe into Italy. After that prince 
was withdrawn, Hannibal, in a fpeech, magnified extremely 
this deputation from the Boii \ extolled the bravery 'which 
bis fdrces had hitherto (hewn j and exhorted them to fuftain^ 
to the laft, their reputation and glory. The foldiers ani* 
mated by his harangue, ptotefted they were ready to exc* 
cute all his orders. Nothing could happened .more favour- 
able to Hannibal^s afFairs than the arrival of Magilus, fince 
there was no room to doubt the fincefity of his intentions : 
for the Boii bore an imphcable hatred to the Romans, and 
bad even come to an open rupture with them, when they 
found that Italy was thfeatened with an invafion from the 
Carthaginians *. 

For four days Hannibal continued his tnafch, crofling ^^n^ a.f*» 
through the middle of Gaul, and moving northwards, with ^^y^l^^ ^ 
his horfe and elephants ported in the rear. This route he iht^Lf 
followed, in Order to avoid Scipio, with whom he chofe to 
decline an engagement, in purfuance of the advice given 
by Magilus. His defign was to proceed with his army, 
\vithoot any diminution, into Italy. Advancing towards 
the country of the Allobroges, he found two brothers difc 
'puting about the fovcrcignty of a territory where he en* 
camped. Brancus the elder was driven from his throne 
by the younger part of his fubjefts, w^ho efpoufed hig 

e Polyb« lib* iii. Liv. lib. xxi* 

Vol. XV* G g younger 



45^ The Hiftcry of the Carthaginians. 

younger brother's intereft. Hannibal, being chofen arbiter 
of this difpute, reindaied Brancus in the pofTeflion of bis 
dominions. That prince^ from a fenfe of gratitude, fup- 
plied the Carthaginian troops with ail the necefTaries they 
wanted, particularly arms, their old armour being woni 
out by long fervice. He likewife efcorted him through 
the countries of the Tricaftini, Vocontii, and Tricorii, 
as far as the river Druentia, now the Durance ; from 
whence he reached the foot of the Alps without oppo- 
fition ^ 
Wr ecwia Moll, if not all, of the barbarous nations, through whofe 
/•/Az/m; territories Hannibal was to pafs, had a mortal averdon to 
iiw / »/• t^cRo^^ws: but as they were incapable of friendfhip or 
fidelity, he frequently found both himfelf and bis army in 
the mod imminent danger of being cut off'> and particularly 
at his beginning to afcend the Alps> foon after his efcort 
had left him. Of this tranfadlion we have already given 
a particular accdunt in the Roman hiilory. Continuing bis 
march to the fummit of the Alps, he encountered many 
other difficulties. The fight of thefe mountains, which 
. feemed to touch the Ikies, covered with (how, and exhibit- 
ing fcarce any thing to the eye but a few tottering cottages 
fcattered on the fliarp tops of inacceffible rocks, not a little 
intimidated his troops. The meagre flocks almoft periflied 
with cold, and hairy favages, with fierce afpefts, renewed 
alfo the terror which the diftant profpeft of this ridge of 
mountains had raifed, and (Iruck a prodigious damp on the 
hearts of the foldiery. Befides, the whole army was brought 
upon the verge of dedrudion by thje perfidy of a Gallic 
nation ; whofe deputies, under the fpecious appearance of 
friends, perfuaded Hannibal to commit himfelf to their 
condu^. But thefe faithlefs guides led him into a fteep 

Eafs, out of which they thought it would be impoflible for 
im to make his efcape. flowever, Hannibal, by the wife 
difpofition of his forces> as well as the afllflance of bis ele- 
phants, and bravery of his infantry, who greatly diftin- 
guiflied themfelves on this occafion, at laft difperfed the 
enemy. After which, adventure he furmounted all other 
difficulties, and the ninth day from his beginning the afcent, 
arrived at the top of the mountains. It muft be obferved, 
that Hannibal was in a great meafure obliged to the ele* 
phants for his efcaping all the difaders the enemy threats 
cned bim with ; for wherever thefe liuge animals appeared, 
the Ga%ls were druck with fuch terror, that they immedi« 

4 

f Liv« & Folyb. ubi fup. Zonar« ubi fup. 

ately 



The Hijlory of the Carthaginians. 45 1 

ately fled with precipitation, leaving the road clear for the, 
Carthaginian general ^. 

Hannibal halted two days oh the fummit of the Alps, to 
refrefli his wearied troojps, which were greatly difpirited bf 
the fnowthat had lately fallen. In brder to animate them Animates 
to make another effort with alacrity, from pne of the high- histrovpL 
eft hills he gave them a profpeft of the fruitful plains wa- 
tered by the Po^ the day before he decamped. He likewife 
pointed towards the place where Roitie flood ; which, he 
afTured them, a battle or two would mak6 them maflers of,, 
and confequently put a glorious period to all thetr toils. 
This profpeft infpired them with fiich vigour, that they 
feemed to have forgot all the fatigues they had undergone, 
and to think only of taking pofTeflibn of that haughty city, 
whofe conduct towards their flate h^d been nothing but on6 
continued feries of infults fince the conclufibn of the Sici- . 
Jian war \ 

They therefore purfued their march ; but the difficulty Defctnds 
and danger increafed^ in proportion as they approached ^ht Alpu 
nearer the end of the defcent. We are told, that about this 
time Hannibal meditated a retreat ; but from the genius of 
that general, as well as the whole tenour of his conduft, 
this conjefture feems highly improbable- To omit many 
particulars, they came at lafl to a path naturally very fleep 
and craggy : which being rendered impradlicable by the 
' late falling of the earth, terminated in a frightful precipice 
above a thoufand feet deep. In fliort, Hannibal found it 
would be impoffible to acqomplifh his defign, without cut^ 
"ting a way in the rock itfelf, through which his men, horfes^ 
and elephants might pafs ; and this, with immenfe labour, 
he efFe<3:ed. Approaching, therefore, gradually the Infu-^ 
bfian foot of the Alps, he detached fome parties of his 
horfe to forage, there appearing now fome fpots of paflure 
where the ground was not covered with fnow. Livy in- 
forms us, that in order to open and enlarge the path, large 
trees were felled, and piled round the rock, after which (ir^ 
was fet to them. The wind, by good fortune, blowing 
hard, a fierce flame foon broke out ; fo that the tock glowed 
like the very coals with which it was furrotirided. Then 
Hannibal, according to the fame author, caufed a great 
quantity of vinegar to be poured oii the rock ; which pierc-* 
ing into the veins, that were now cracked with th#intenfc 
heat of the fire, calcined and foftened it. In this manner, 
taking a large compafs, in order that the defcent might be 
eaiier, he cut a way along the rock, which opened a free 

t Aureli Vi£t, in Hannib* ^ Liv. & Folyb, ubi fup. 

G g a paflage 



4 J 2 ^he Hiftory of the Cartlaglnmts. 



■I 



laffage to the forces, baggage, and elephants. As Polybitr5 
las paflbd over in filencc the ufe Hannibal made of vine- 
gar on this occafion, many rejeft that incident as fabulous. 
We arri*vet At length Hannibal gained th« fruitful plains of Infubria^ 
inlnfubria. where, in reviewing his army he found, that in five months- 
and a half's march (for fo long was it fince he had left New 
Garthage), he had lofl: by ficknefs, defertion, fatigue, and 
various engagements, thirty thoufand foot, and three thou- 
fand horfe. His army now amounted to no more than 
twenty-fix thoufand efFeflive men. Above twenty thoufand 
had periflied fince his departure from the Rhodanus. That 
we may have a more diftinft idea of Hannibars march, it 
^'ill be proper to give the names and diftances of fome of 
the principal places through ^hich that general pafTed 
HI his way to Italy, tranfcribcd from Polybius. From 
New Carthage to the Ibcrus were computed two thoufand 
fix hundred ftadia; from the Iberus to Emporium, a fmalf 
maritime town, which feparated Spain from the Gauls,, ac- 
cording to Strabo, fix teen hundred ftadia ; from Emporium 
lo the banks of the Rhodanus, fixteen hundred fta'dia ; 
from the Rhodanus to the Alps, fourteen hundred iladiav 
from the Alps to the plains of Infubiia, twelve hundred 
ftadia. In all eight thoufand four hundred lladia, making 
vmuch about a thoufand Englifli miles '. 
*f ie Tau^ Upon H.innibars arrival in Italy, he for fome time en- 
rtMttm' camped at the foot of the mountains, in order to allow his 
troops fome reft, they having fuffered extremely in their 
paffage over the Alps. He firfl: took care to refrefli them, 
and afterwards to recruit his ca\'^lry, that he might be ready 
to enter vipoxi aftion. He then folicited the Taurini, who 
were at war with the Infubres, to enter into an alliance. 
Upon their rcfufal to conclude a treaty with him, he en- 
tered their territories in a hoftile manner; and inverting 
Taurinum, their capital city, after a fiege of three days, 
.took it by ftorm, putting all who made refiftance to the 
fvvord. This feverity ftruck the neighbouring Gauls with 
fuch terror, that they furrendered at difcretion. By this 
fird inllance of fuccefs, he not only plentifully fupplied bis 
army with provifions, but was like wife ftrongly reinforced 
by grc^t fiumbers of thefe Gauls, who engaged. in the Gar- 
tliaginii^n fervice. The reft of the Gauls would, in all pro- 
bability, have followed their example, had they not beei* 
jeftraincd by the terror of the Roman TumSj which were 
now apprcacb:i:g. Hannibal therefore thought his wifcft 
courfe would be ta march directly into their country, with- 

i folyb, wbl fup. p. i^9. Strab. liij, ii, 

out 



The Hiflcry of the Carthaginianu 45 J 

t)«t lofs of timci and make fuch an attempt as might encou- 
rage thofe who {hewed a difpofition to join him, to put 
themfelves under his proteftion ^ 

In the mean time Hannibal received intelligence, that and ad- 
Scipio had pafled the Po with his legions, and was advanc- nfanca to* 
ing to give him battle. This report at firfl: he could fciarce- ^'^''^^ '^ 
ly believe, thinking it impoffible that he Ihould return from 
Gaul to Italy, crofs Etruria, pafs the Po, and be ready to 
receive him m fo (hort a time. Whiit gave him this notioa 
was an information from thofe he thought he could confide 
in, that the paflage from Maflilia to Etruria by fea was ex- 
tremely difficult arid tedious ; and the way to the laft place 
from the Alps, by land, almoft imprafticable. Scipio, oa 
his fide, was as much fufprifed at Hannibars expeditious 
inarch and rapid progrefs. The news of his arrival in Italy, 
and the conquefts he had already made, fo alarmed the 
people at Rome, that they difpatched an exprefs to Sem- 
pronius at Lilyb«um, to repair, with the utfnoft expedition, 
to the relief of his diftrefled country. Having received an 
account of the pofture of affairs, he embarked immediately 
for Rome with the naval forces, leaving orders with the 
fefpeftive tribunes to aflemble all the troops that could be 
fpared out of their feveral garrifons. Then he fixed a day 
for them to rendezvous at Ariminum, a town fituated near 
the coaft of the Adriatic, on the edge of the plains watered 
by the Po on the fouth. Hannibal again harangued his 
foldiers : he reminded them of their glorious atchievements, 
and of the great diiEculties they had furmounted. He told 
them, the Romans had never yet engaged men aQuated by 
ciefpair, nor fuch warriors as themfelves, who had marched 
from the pillars of Hercules, through the fierceft nations, 
into the very heart of Italy. His own fuperiority to Scipio 
in military experience and exploits, he infinuated, they were 
laot ftrangers to : he faid they could not but be fenfiblCf 
that he was almoft born, at leaft educated, in his father 
HamiJcar's tent ; that he was the conqueror of Spain, of 
Gauf, of the inhabitants of the Alps, and what is ftill more, 
of the Alps themfelves. From whence he concluded, that 
they would make themfelves raafters of Rome, and confe* 
i]uently of all the Roman acquifitions in Sicily, of which 
that ambitious republic had deprived their anceftors ^ 

In the mean time Scipio, advancing to the Ticinus, threw ^^^ /e^ '' 
a bridge over that river, and immediately ercfted a fort, to near tn§ 
ilefcnd it againft the attempts of the enemy. It is not ira- Ttcimui 

* Liv, & Vo\yb. ubi Tup. i lidcm ibid. 

G g 3 probable 



4(.54 ^^^ Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 

probable that he called it Ticinum, after the name of the 
river ; and that this was the original of the city of Pavia, 
which in the moft ancient authors is called Ticinum. 
Whilft the Romans were employed in conftrufting this fort, 
Hannibal detached Maherbal, with a body of five hundred 
Numidian horfe, to pillage the territories of thofe nations 
'which were in alliance with Rome ; but ordered him to 
Ipare the Gauls, and excite their chiefs to a revolt. The 
Roman army, having pafTed the Ticinus, advanced to a 
village.five miles from the fort they had built, and encamp- 
ed upon fome heights, in fight of the Carthaginians* Han- 
nibal, upon this motion, recalled the Numidian detachment 
under Maherbal, and made the proper difpofitions to at- 
tack the enemy. Before the fignal was given, he thought 
it requifite to animate his troops with frefh promifes ; then 
cleaving with a ftone the fkull of the lamb he was facrific-* 
ing, he prayed Jupiter to daih to pieces his head in like 
manner, in cafe he did not give his foldiers the rewards he 
had promifed them. This vow rendered his troops impa- 
tient to attack the enemy, efpecially as two ill omens had 
juft filled their army with terror and confternation- ' In the 
firft place a wolf had ftolen into the Roman camp, and 
cruelly mangled fome of the foldiers, without receiving the 
leaft harm from thofe who endeavoured to kill it j and fe- 
condly, a fwarm of bees had pitched upon a tree near the 
praetorium, or general's tent. However, Scipio advanced at 
the head of his forces into the plain, where Hannibal had 
drawn up his troops in order of battle. Proceeding with his 
daitmen and cavalry to take a view of the number and pofture 
of the enemy, he intercepted the Spanifli and Numidian 
horfe, commanded by Hannibal j upon which the fight 
linmediately began. As this has been already defcribcd, 
we (hall at prefent only obferve, that it was very fevere and 
bloody, vidlory continuing for a long time in fufpenfe ; that 
hiany troopers on botli fides, in the heat of the a£lion, dif- 
mounted, and fought on foot ; but that at lafl the Numi- 
dians charged the Romans in the rear, routed them, and 
wounded the conful. This accident obliged the Romans, 
after having loft the greateft part of their army, to retreat 
^ith precipitation. The immediate confequence of which 
was, that Scipio repafltd the Ticinus, though his legions 
were all entire. Hannibal afterwards advanced to the bridge^ 
but found it broken down. It is agreed, that the Cartha- 
^ giniah'owed this firft vi£lbry to hiisfuperiority in cavalry, 
land the difpofition of the ground where the engagement 
happened, ho place being more nrbper for fuch troops t^ 



The Hiflary of the Carthapntans. 455 

-aft in, than thofc large open plains lying between the Po 
^nd the Alps "• 

Hannibal, having driven the enemy from the fieldt con- ^n<^pvr* 
tinued his march to the banks of the Po. Here he remained f^^^"^^ 
two days, before he could cro/s that river over a bridge of fjjffnkuh 
boats. Then he fent Mago, with the light Spaniih horfe, 
in purfuit of the enemy, who, having rallied their {battered 
forces, and repafled Jthc Po, were encamped at Placcntia. 
Hannibal, having concluded a treaty with feveral of the 
Gallic cantons, advanced a day's march beyond the Po, ^ 
■where Mago joined him. After this junftion he led his army 
to Placentia, and ofFered the Romans battle; but this the 
conful thought proper to decline. He was terrified at the 
expedition of Harniibal's purfuit, and the ardor of the Car- 
thaginian troops : in ihort, his men being intimidated by 
the defertion of a body of Gauls, he abandoned his fortified 
camp, pafled the Tfebia, and pofted himfelf on an emi- 
nence near that river. Here he fortified his camp, and 
waited the arrival of his colleague with the forces from 
Sicily". 

Hannibal, informed of the conful*s departure from Pla- 
centia, fent the Ntimidian horfe to harafs him in his march^ 
himfelf moving, with the main body of the army, to fup- 
port them. The Numidians arrived upon the bai^^ks of the 
Trebia before the rear of the Romans had entirely paiTed 
that river, and put ta the fword, or made prtfoners, ail the 
ftragglers they found upon their arrival. Soon after, Han- 
nibal coming up, encamped in fight of the Roman army, on 
the oppofite bank. Here he foon learned the chara<^er of 
Sempromus, who had joined Scipio, and, during that ge- 
neral's diforder, had the fole command of the Roman forces. 
Sempfonius being of a rafh, though ambitious, difpofitipn, 
oontrary to the fentiments of Scipio, was refolved, at all 
events, to venture an engagement with Hannibal. To this 
meafure he was farther excited by the fcarcity of provifions 
prevailingan the Roman camp, whilft the Carthaginians 
enjoyed the greateft plenty and affluence ; for Hannibal had 
ktely feis^ed the principal Roman magazine at Claftrdium. 
Both the city and magazine were betrayed by a Brundufian, 
for four hundred .pieces of ^old ; which, though a very mo- 
derate fum for fo important a conqueft, aS gold money was 
then a great curiofity in Italy, none having been yet coined 
by the Romans, corrupted the traitor. Hannibal incorpo- 
sated the garrifon among his troops, fuch lenity being at 

njCorn.Kep. Fion Aur. Vi6t. Orof, Zonar. ubifupra. " lidem 
ibid** 

C £ 4 this 



4 j5 fke ^Jery ^ the Carthaginians. 

this junfturc ncccffary, or at leaft politic, that tliofc citic* 
might not be terrified which were inclined to fubxnit. 
This (lep induced both the Rooiaus and the Cifalpine Gauls 
to believe, that the Carthaginian general was prudent a$ 
well as brave. 

Hannibal, having difcovered the true difpoGtion of Sena- 
pronius,, refoWed Toon to bring hinfA to a general afiion. 
Thi0 purpofe^ by two (tratageois, he ciFefted, and. gave him 
an entire defeat. Tl>e vi&ory was owing to Hannibal't 
Goodud, who out-generalled the conful, (lar ved the RooianSs 
prepared for them an ambufcade, refreChed his own men, 
and anointed their bodies with oil (N). Ten thoufand of 
the enemy retired to Placentia, but the greateft part of the 
reft w^re either killed or taken prifoners. The Gauls, in 
tbe Carthaginian fervice, fuffered feverely in the adlion j 
but the Carthaginians fuftained no confiderable lofs, except 
that of their horfes and elephants» all of which lai^, but one« 
perifl^ed by the cold, and in the battle, Thtfe furious anit 
fnaU did, however, very con&derable fervice ; they broke 
Into the enemy's uncovered battalions, both at the right and 
left; either trod the manipuli under fopc, or difperfed tbem; 
and would have made a terrible flaiighter, if the light-armed 
infantry bad not driven theni back by a kind pf goads, with 
whkh they wqunded theoi under their tails,. the only place 
where their (kins were penetrable. The Carthaginians pur* 
fued the routed enemy as far as the Trebia, b^it did not 
think proper to pafs ^at river, on account of tbe ezceffive 
cold. Next night Scipio decamped, aiid retired likewifq 
^ with great precipitation to Placentia *• 

It is evident, that what principally contributed to the de-r 
feat of the Roman army, was their inferiority in hojrfe ; fof 
the Carthaginiati cavalry amounted to ten thoufand, whereat 
that of the Homans did not exceed fottr thoufand i and thia 
body, fmall as it was, could not a£l with vigour, being foon 
thrown into confufion by the enemy'selephants. The horfea 
could neither bear the fight nor unell of thofe monftrous 
^piaimals, and therefore were terrified at their approach. Sci* 
pio undoubtedly had acquainted Se^^pronius with tbe daxN 

^ Polyh. ubi fup. cap. 74, Liy. lib. xxi. ?ap. 55^ Appian dt 
ieW. Hannib. Flpr. lib, ii, ?ap. 6, Frontiq. Stfat. lib. ii. Qap. 5, 

(N) We are told by theRor gan, making u(d of this expert 
ipan authors, that the Cartfaa* dient as a prefervative againil 
giiii^ps, at Rannibal-s com- . the cold, a vaft quantity otfnoHT 
n»and, anoiotedtheir bo^e^ with havipg faU^a the dajr before. 



pil before the ^pgagcn^ept be^ 



|;«? 



The Hifiory of the Carthaginians* , 455^ 

ger be was in from the enemy's fuperiority in horfc, as he 
bad loft the battle of Ticinus by the weaknefs of his cavalry^ 
and urged, this, among other circuin(lances> as a reafon for 
him to decline an engagement ; but Semprcnius, being in« 
fatuated by rafhnefs as well as ambition, was deaf to all (z^ 
lutary admonitions; and^ in confequence of this infatuation^, 
brought upon the Romans fignal lofs and difgrace p. 

The CartbaginianSi upon Fabius's declaration of tv^ar, The Car* 
propofed to aft by fea as well as land againft the Romans thaginian 
and their allies; and, therefore, befides all their military pre* ^P^^^^^^m 
parations, fitted out twenty gallies, with a thoufand foldiers ^^J^^' 
on board, to ravage the coafts of Italy. Nine of thefe feized 
upon the iflands of Lipari, and eight made a defcent upon 
the ifland of Vulcania, the other three not being able to ap- 
proach the ihore. They likewife equipped a fleet of thirty* 
five quinqueremes, to poflefs themfelves of Lilybaeum, 
This laft attempt, however, mifcarried, the Carthaginians 
being defeated by the Romans, and lofing feven of their vef- 
fcls, together with feventeen hundred men taken prifoners, 
amongft whom were three Carthaginian noblemen. From 
th^ coaft of Sicily Sempronius, with the Roman and Sy-r 
jracufan fquadrons, failed to Melita ; which Hamilcar, the 
fon of Gifco, furrendered. From Melita the conful ^t^tt^ 
bis courfe to the ifland of Vulcania, thinking to meet with 
the Carthaginian fleet ; but the Carthaginiahs had failed to 
the coafts of Italy, and plundered the territory of the city 
pf Vibo, thfeatening at the fame time to attack that city if* 
ftlf. This expedition the conful being apprifed of, when 
he returned to Sicilyf and likewife receiving letters fron^ 
Jlome by an exprefs, notifying to him Hannibars arrival in 
Italy, with orders to return with all poffibie expedition, he 
found himfelf obliged to alter his meafures. He immedi*. 
ately therefore difpatcbed Sextus Pomponius, with twenty-if 
five great ihips, to proteft the coafts of Italy from the in^ 
fults of the Carthaginidn fquadron, and haftened himfelf to 
Ariminum. From hence he proceeded to the Trebja, wber^ 
be met with the misfortiine already related S 

Whilft Hannibal waspufliingon bis conquefts in Italy, Thetranfi^ 
Hanno, who commanded in ^pain, received intelligence ^^'^"-^ '» 
that the Romans, under the command of Cneius Scipio, %^Lt'l 
bad advanced as far as the Iberus, and reduced all the coun- ^^' 
try betwixt that river and the Pyrenees. Upon this advice 
Hanno afl^embled his forces, and marched to the city of 
Ciffa, where he crncamped in fight of the Rom*ans. The 

P Polyb. & Liv. ubi fupra. q Liv. lib. xi^i. cap, 17. Appian, 

|p Libyc. ;^0Aar. Vkti* y'm, cap, 9«f 

Ticinity 



458 ^he Hjfiary of the Carfhaginans. 

Ticinity of the two armies foon brought on a general a^ion, 
wherein the Carthaginians were totally routed. Hanno 
himfelf was taken prifoner, together with Indibilis, a Spa- 
niih prince, devoted to the Carthaginians* Their camp was 
forced, fix thoufand (lain, and two tlioufand taken prifoners. 
All the heavy baggage Hannibal left with Hanno before his 
departure for Italy fell a prey to the Romans ; and many 
of the Spanifli nations concluded an ofFenfive and defenfive 
alliance with Scipio. However, this defeat did not difcou- 
rage the Carthaginians; for Afdrubal, another Carthaginian 
commander, hearing that the Roman feamen and marines 
had difperfed themfelves over the country, without order or 
difcipline, immediately paiTed the Iberus with a body of 
eight thoufand foot and a thoufand horfe ; fell upon them 
4inexpe£ledly, and put the greateft part to the fword, 
purfuing the reft to their fleet. Nothing of confequence 
happened afterwards this campaign in Spain. Afdrubal 
took up his winter-quarters at New Carthage, as foon as he 
bad finiflied this expedition ; and the Romans eftabliOied 
their's at Tarraco, after Scipio had divided the booty gained 
from theCarthaginiansby the late victory amongft his troops^ 
JianmbaVs Hannibal, after the a£lion upon the Trebia, ordered the 
fol'uyto Numidians, Celtiberians, and Lufitanians, to make incur- 
nvtn oyer g^j^^, j^^^^ ^j^^ Roman territories, where they committed great 
'iereft The depredations. During this ftate of inadion he refreflied his 
fillies of the Ifoops, and took care to Conciliate the afieflions of the 
Romans. Gauls as well as the allies of the Romans. He declared to 
the Gallic and Italian prifoners he had taken, that he had 
no intention to make war upon their nations, being deter- 
mined to reftore them to their libertyi and protedi them 
againft the Romans. To confirm them in the idea he was 
defirous they (hould entertain of him, he difmifiTed them 
without demanding the leaft ranfom *. 
Be marches- During the winter Hannibal's troops were reinforce^ by 
mtnEtru- a confiderable body of Gauls, Ligurians, and Etrufcans) 
w*> who, for various reafons, abandoned the Romans. Hanni- 

bal however repofed no great truft in his auxiliaries, but ra- 
ther entertained a fufpicion of them ; on which account he 
difguifed himfelf this winter in the manner already related. 
He was the better enabled to purfue this condu£b by the 
.variety of languages he underftood, amongft which Zona- 
ras mentions the Latin. He found, that the moft efFeftaal 
way to fecure himfelf, was to change the theatre of war 
and march* into Etruria. This ftep he took after a briik 
^encounter with Sempronius, wherein many fell on both 

' Polyb, lib. ill. • Ibid. cjip. ;»• Liir* ibi4p cap. 57. 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians* 459 

fides, as we have already obferved in a former part of tbi$ 
work '. 

Hannibal having crofled the Appennines and penetrated andad' 
into Etruria, received intelligence that the newconful Fla-^ 'vaacestw 
minius lay encamped, with the Roman army, under the ^'^'^***' 
walls of Arretium. Purfuant to the plan of operations laid 
down, he moved dire£Hy that way, in order to inform him- 
felf of the Roman general's capacity and defigns, as well as 
the courfe and fituation of the country. As his troops had 
been greatly harafled by the late fatiguing march, he halted 
fome time in the neighbourhood of Fxfulae. Here he learned 
the true charadler of Flaminius ; that he was a good orator, 
but entirely ignorant of the military art ; in fine, that he 
was rafli, proud, and of a fierce difpofition. This intelli- 
gence gave Hannibal great encouragement, not doubting 
but he ihould foonbe able to bring him to a battle. Han- 
nibal, in the firft ftep he took, fays Polybius, a£led like a 
wife commander, fince it ought to be the principal ftudy of 
a general to difcover the genius of his antagonift. To in- 
flame the impetuous fpirit of Flaminius, the Carthaginian 
general advanced towards Arretium in his way to Rome, 
and leaving the Roman army behind him, deftroyed all the 
country through which he moved with fire and fword. As 
that part of Etruria abounded with corn, cattle, all forts of 

f)rovifion, with all the elegancies as well as necelTari^s of 
ife, the Romans and their allies fuftained an incredible loft 
on this occafion. 

Flaminius was not of a temper to continue inadive in fi^mimut 
his camp, even if ^Hannibal bad lain dill, and £iven him purfues 
no provocation ; but when he beheld the terricoriet of the t^^nibML 
allies of Rome ravaged in fo dreadful a manner, he loft all 
patience, thinking it would refleft the greateft difhonour 
upon him, fhould he permit Hannibal to continue his de- 
vaftationswith impunity, and even advance to the walls of 
Rome without oppofition. He refolved therefore immedi- 
ately to attack the Carthaginians ; and fo obftinately was he 
determined upon this meafure, that when the officers of the 
army, in a council of war, endeavoured to prevail upon him 
to wait the arrival of his colleague, he ruflied from the 
council in a rage, giving orders to the army inftantly to be- 
gin their march : ** Yes, truly, (faid he) we ought to fit ftill 
before the walls of Arretium, fince this is our native couiw 
try, and here are our habitations ! We ought to let Hanni- 
bal efcape out of our hands, and deftroy all the country to 

tS. Jul. Front! 11. lib. i.cap*ft5. exi a8« Corn. Nep. in Hannifr. 
fap. 5. 'Appian. in tiannib* 

the 



J 



^5o ^^^ Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 

the very walls of Rome, with fire and fword I Wc ought 
by no mcms to move from hence till the confcript fathers 
fend for C. FUminias from Arretium, as they fornoerly did 
for Camillus from Veii ! " He mounted his borfe with 
fuch precipitation, that he fell from him ; an accident which 
was confidered as a bad omen. This, however, made no 
impreflion upon him. A meffcnger came to acquaint him, 
that the cnfignsftuck fo fad in the ground that the foldiers 
could not pull them out. Upon which, turning towards 
himj *' Doll thou bring me a letter likewife (faid he) from 
the fcnate, prohibiting me to a£i againft the Carthaginians? 
Go tell them, they may dig the cnfigns up, if their hands 
are fo benumbed with fear that they cannot pull them out." 
Being certain of victory he immediately decamped, ap- 
proaching Hannibal with the utmoft temerity ". 

Yr. of Fl. ^n the mean tinrie Hannibal advanced towards Rome, 
a 144. having Cortona on the left hand, and the lake Thrafyme- 

A«te C hr. ,^us OH the right. At laft, obferving the difpofition of the 
^°^' groun4 to be very convenient for his plirpofe, he put him- 

7 ., , felf in a pofture to receive Flaminius, who was rapidly ap- 

Hannibal , . * ,,,, , ^p, ^ j *u . • r 

iffifeats the proaching. Ihc lake Ihralymenus, and the mountams of 

Komam at Cortona, form a very narrow defile, which leads into a 

the take' large valley, lined on both fides with mountains of a conG- 

rhrafj' derable height, and clofed at the outlet by a fteep hill of 

m$.nuj^ difficult accefs. Upon this eminence Hannibal encamped 

with hisSpaniCh and African troops, polling the Baleares and 

light-armed infantry, which were drawn up in one long 

. line, in ambufcade, at the foot of the hills on the right fide 

erf the valley, and lining with the Gallic cavalry the left fide 

of it, in fuch a manner that they extended as far as the en-* 

trance of the defile. Hanpibal, having thus in the night 

ftjrrounded the vglley with his forces, lay quiet, as though 

he had no intention to engage. This farther excited the 

conful to engage the Carthaginians as foon as pofiible ; for 

which end he fo eagerly purfucd them, that the following 

night be advanced to the valley, and entered it in the morn* 

ing, moving with his vanguard at a fmall dlilance from the 

luke Thrafymenus. Thefe difpofitions brought on a general 

aftion, which ended in the total defeat of the confular army. 

Flaminius himfelf, with fifteen thoufand men, fell on the 

field of battle, A great number of prifon^rs likewife were 

tijken by the Carthaginians j and a body of fix thoufand 

men, who bad fled to a town in Etruria, furrendered to 

Mahcrbal the next day at difcretion. Hannibal loft only 

.. w PoVyh. lib. iii. cap. 75 — 78—85. J^iv. lib. xxii. cap. 7. Appian* 
de Bt*ll* Hannib. Zonar. ubl fupra. cap. %^» 

fifteen 



The Hijiory of the Carthaginians. 461 

fifteen hundred men on this occafion, moft of whom were 
Gauls, though great numbers, both of his foldiers and the 
Romans, died afterwards of their wounds. He command- 
ed the flrJfteft fearch to be made for the body of FlaminiuSi 
in order to give it ati honourable interment, but it could not 
be found. He likewife folemnjzed the funerals of thirty of 
his chief officers who had been flain in the *6lion ; but was 
at a lofs how to difpatch a courier to Gwthage with an ♦ 

account of the glorious viAory he had gained. All the other 
principal particulars relating to the def«f[r of the Romans at 
the lake Thrafymenus our readers will find in another ptace* 

Hannibal, being informed that the conful Servilins "had Maherbat 
detached a body of four, or, according to Appian, eight ^out' Cm- 
thoufand horfe from Ariminum, to reinforce his colleague '^*'*''* 
in Etruria, ordered Maherbal, with all the xrafalry, and 
fome of the infantry, to attack him. The Roman detach- 
ment confifted of chofen men, and was commanded by 
Centenius, a patrician. Maherbal had the good fortune to 
meet with him, and, after a fliort difpute, entirely defeat- 
ed him. Two thoufand of the Romans were killed up- 
on the fpot, the reft retiring to an eminence, where, being 
furrounded by Maherbal, they were obliged the next day to 
furrender at difcretion. This blow, happening within a 
few days after the defeat at the lake Thrafymenas, almoft 
gave a finifhing ftroke to the Roman affairs. Appian re- 
lates, that the people in Rome were fo alarmed on diin 
occafion, that they expend an immediate vifit from Han- 
t^ibal ; and therefore not only polled great numbers of 
dartmen on the ramparts to defend them, but likewife argi- 
ed even the old men with the weapons taken from their 
enemies in former wars,, and hung up as trophies in their 
temples. Hannibal, however, did not advance to Rome, 
but moved towards the territory of Adria, taking his route 
through Umbria and Picenum. As he plundered the coun- 
try through which he marched, upon his arrival in the ter- 
ritory of Adria, he was loaded with booty* Spoletum he 
attacked in his march ; but was .repulfed with lofs. From 
thence approaching the frontiers of Apulia, he ravaged the 
adjacent territories, the* country of the Marfi, Marrucini, 
Pe'ligni, together with the diftriSs of Arpi and Luceria. 
The conful Cn. Servilius did nothing memorable this cam- 
paign. He had only a (tw flight (kirmiihes with the Gauls, 
and reduced an inconfiderable town. However, he thought 
proper to move towards Rome, to cover that capital from 
any attempts of the Carthaginians. Polybius tells us» that 
Hannibal treated the allies of the Romans with the u^moft 
cruelty in this expcdilion. 

The 



^62 ^he Hijlory of the 'Carthaginians. 

HaftMihid The Carthaginian army at this time was very fickly, bc- 
mrmt kis ing troubled with a fcorbutic diforder, called by the Greeks 
fitMirs limopforos. This feemed owing to the unwholefome en- 
^er tkt campments they had been obliged to make, and their march 
Kmmam through fo many morafles. As both the horfes and men 
mMMUiri y^^j^ infcftcd with this diftemper, Hannibal found it abfo- 
lutely neceflary to repofe his troops in the territory of A- 
dria, which waft a mod pleafant and fruitful' country. In 
his various engagements with the Romans, he had taken a 
great number of tlieir weapons, with which he now armed 
his men after the Roman manner. Being now likewife ma« 
'fter oi that part of the country bordering on the fea, he 
found means to fend an exprefs to Carthage, with the news 
of the glorious progrefs of his arms. The Carthaginians 
received thefe tidings with the mod joyful acclamations, at 
the fame time coming to a refolution to reinforce their ar- 
mies both, in Italy and Spain, with a proper number of 
troops ^. 
mnd . Hannibal, having refrefhed his army, and over-run the 

marchn territory of the Ferentani, Daunii, Meflapii, and the whole 
imtoCam* province of Apulia, encamped near Ibonium. In the mean 
f^Msa. ^^^^ Fabius, for his fingular virtue and abilities furnamed 
Maximus, was elected didator at Rome, and invefted with 
the abfolute command of the Roman army. Fabius order- 
ed the conful Servilius to watch the motions of the Cartha- 
ginians by fea, whilft he, with the legions, and his general 
of horfe, advanced to ^gae, to have an eye upon Hanni- 
bal. The fubtle Carthaginian made a great variety of 
movements, and had recourfe to an infinity of ftratagems, 
in order to draw the Roman general to a battle ; but all his 
endeavours proved inefFedual. Hannibal therefore, hav- 
ing before ravaged all the country bordering on the Adria- 
tic, crofTed the Apennines, and entered Samnium, where 
he likewife committed great devaftations. He plundered 
the territory of Beneventum, took the ftrong city of Venu- 
fia, and befieged Telefia, a town at the foot of the Apen- 
nines. Fabius ftill kept pace with him, though he did not 
think proper to approach tt;ie Carthaginians nearer than a day's 
march, being determined to decline an engagement. Han- 
nibal, b^ing convinced, that a (late of inadion muil prove 
fatal, in order to draw Fabius to a battle, marched his 
army into Campania, by the advice of fome of the Italian 
" prifbners he had difmiiTed after the late battle> and who 
now had joined him« Then he detached Maherbal, with 

w Zonar. ubi fnp. cap. 25. Vide 8c Flor. Corn. Nep. Aur. Vift« 
Eutrop. Oroft &c« ubi fup. Frontin. Strata lib« ii. cap. 5. ex. %4. 



7T?e Hifiory of the Carthaginians. 463 

a body of hdrfe, to plunder the territory of Falernum. 
That general, penetrating as far as the waters of SinueflTa, 
deftroyed all the country, as he advanced, with fire and 
fword. However, the Campanians continued firm in their 
obedience to the Romans. Hannibal aftetwards, encamp- 
ing upon the Vulturnts, ravaged the whole province in a 
moft dreadful manner, Fabius not offering to (lir, though 
he beheld thefe devaftations from the top of mount Maffi- 
cus, where he had entrenched himfelf to obferve the mo- 
tions of the Carthaginian army. This inaftion greatly in- 
cenfed both the Roman troops, and his general of horfe, 
againft him *. 

All methods had now been tried in vain by Hannibal to He cann§t 
bring Fabius to a battle. He had at firft advanced to his ^^'«5^ ^^- 
very intrenchments at ji^gae, and braved him ; he had up- ^!^!j^ * 
braided him and his troops with having Joft the valour of 
their anceftors ; he had endeavoured to roufe him by fre- 
quent removals from place to place, by pillaging the lands, 
plundering the cities, and burning the villages and towns* 
He, at one time, would decamp with the utmoft precipi- 
tation, and at another ftop fhort in fome remote valley, to 
fee whether he could not rufli out, and furprife him in the 
plain. But, notwithitanding all his artifices, all his marches, 
countermarches, and feints, the diftator inflexibly adhered 
to his firft refolution, and thereby gave the crafty Carthagi^ 
nian to underftand, that the Romans, inftru£):ed by their 
defeats, had at laft made choice of a general capable of op- 
pofing Hannibal. 

As Campania was a country more agreeable to the eye, He retires 
than proper for the fubfiftence of an army, Hannibal began from Cam- 
to think, of decamping. Befides, he had no intention to P^^*^i 
confume idly the provifions he had amafled for the winter- 
feafon, nor lofe the rich fpoils obtained in the provinces he 
had ravaged. He therefore began his march from Campa- 
nia towards the decline of fummer, andpurfued it for fome 
time with great expedition. 

It being natural to fuppofe, that Hannibal would re- and 'wUh 
turn the fame way he came ; and Fabius being apprifed of great dtjgi- 
his intent, by his fpies, the Roman general ordered a de- '"^^{^ ^^- 
tachment of four thoufand men to advance, and poflefs Vl^"°^ 
themfelves of the pafs on mount Eribanus, exhorting them ofslmni- 
to behave with bravery, when an opportunity of engaging um : 
the Carthaginians (hould offer. That he might the more 
effeftually annoy Hannibal in his march, he threw another 
body of troops into Cafilinum, a fmall town fituated on the 

* Liv. Folyb. Appian. Zonar. ubi fupra. Plut. in Fab. 

Vulturnus, 



^64 ^^^ ti^oty of the Carthdginianik 

VttltumuS) wbicli fcparated the territories of Falerlittlil 
from thofe of Capua, and at the fame time took poft with 
the main body oi his army on mount Callicula. Frpm thence 
he fent a party of four hundred horfe, under the command 
ef L. Hoftilius Mancinus, to reconnoitre the enemy, with 
orders to retire upon the firft new* of their approach. 
Mancinus, difregarding his orders, fkirmiflicd.with fercral 
ftraggling parties of Numidians, who, retiring before him, 
drew him by degrees nearer the Carthaginian camp. Car- 
thalo, general of the Carthaginian cavalry, obfcrving this 
lafh -condttf^s purfued him, at the head of a body of 
horfe, five miles ; and at laft coming up, cut him off, 
with the grcateft part of his men. The reft fled to Cales, 
from whence they made their efcapc to Fabius, bringing 
him the melancholy news of the dif^ftcr that had befallen 
the detachment y. 
nuh'tch he * Hannibal, with his forces, foon arrived at the foot of the 
effids by a mountains, where he encamped : but here he found himfclf 
Jiraiagtm. involved in great difficulties, being pent up in fuch a man* 
ner, by the Romans who had feized upon Cnfilinum and 
CallicuU) that it fcemcd impoffible for him to efcape. Not^ 
he found, that his own arts were put in praSice againft him* 
and that he had fallen into much the fame fnare he had 
laid for Flaminius at the lake Thrafymenus. Fabins, in the 
mean time, perceiving he had his eneipy in his power, was 
making the proper difpofitions for an attack next morning. 
At this critical conjunfture, Hannibal, by the affiftance of 
two thoufand wild oxen, with torches, faggots, and dry 
vine-branches, tied to their horns, and driven with great 
violence, in the dead of the night, to the top of the hills 
where the Romans lay encamped, found means to gain the 
pafs, which opened a way to Allifse. We are told, that> 
before he communicated this ftratagem to his general offi* 
cers, he maffacred five thoufand Italian prifoners, to pre* 
vent its being difcovered by their means, as well qs to hin- 
der their joining the enemy, if his defign (hould mifcarry* 
By this fingular contrivance, Hannibal eluded the efforts of 
Fabius, and preferved both himfelf and his army, when 
they were upon the very brink of dcftrudion. For the par* 
ticulars of this ftratagem we muft refer our readers to the 
Roman hiftory *• 
Wi moihns At break of day there M^as a fmart aftfon on the top of the 
«/''''* hill : for the Romans had found means to cat off fome of 

HannibaPs light-armed troops from the reft'of the army, and 

y Polyb. Liv. Appian. iihi fupra. z-Plut. ubi fupra* Zo* 

nar, Mbi fupra^ cap. 16. Front. Scrat. lib* i. cap. y ex. %t* 

attacked 



njL-ards, 



^he Wftoty of the CafthagiHtanSi 4^5 

attaclted, them with incredible fury. He therefore fent a 
detachment of Spaniards, who were accuftomed to afcend 
hills^ and (land nrm on. craggy precipices, to fuftain them. 
Accordingly the Spaniards charged the Romans with fd 
much bravery, that they killed a thoufand upon the fpot^ 
and covered the retreat of their companions in fuch a man- 
ner, that fcarce a man was loft on this occafion ** > 

Then he made a motion, as though he intended to pafs tianni$al 
through Samnium to Rome ; but turning about, he advanced tncamps at 
to the territory of the Peligni, and pillaged all the country ^^runim^. 
through which he moved. From thence he returned into 
Apulia, and taking the town of Gerunium by affault, put 
all the inhabitants to the iTword. He made granaries of the 
houfes, lodged bis troops under the walls, and fortified his 
camp with* a retrenchment^ He then fent two-thirds of his 
army to gather in the corn of the province, which was ex^ 
tremely fertile. In the mean time Fabius, being ordered 
to Rome, left the command of the army to Minucius, his 
general of horfe, with orders to obferve the motiotis of Han- 
nibal at a proper diftance ; but by no means to engage him. 

Minucius, being of a contrary difpoGtion to Fabius, re- Whuetus 
folved not to keep in the path which that general had pre- gains fomit 
fcribed for him. Being informed that the greateft part ofM^fad-^ 
the Carthaginian army was difperfed over the territory ^i '^^^r^jflf^, 
Gerunium, in order to forage, and that Hannibal himfelf nibal^ 
lay encamped with the other part under the walls of that 
place, he took pofleffion of an eminence called Calela, in 
the neighbourhood of Larinum, not far from Hannibal^s 
camp. The Carthaginian receiving intelligence of the ene- 
my's approach, recalled part of his reapers, and gained an 
afcent about two miles from Gerunium, imagining that this 
poft would enable him to fecure the others from infult. 
Next night he detached two thoufand foot to feize upon a 
rifmg-ground clofe by the Roman camp j a purpofe which 
tbey effeded without oppofition : but, next morning, Mi- 
nucius commanded a ftronger body of troops to diflodge 
them 5 which, after a briflc adtion, they performed, putting 
many to the fword, and difperfing the reft. Animated by 
this firft inftance of fuccefs, Minucius attacked the, Cartha-^ 
ginian foragers, cut a great number to pieces, and, in a 
rencounter, had the advantage over Hannibal. Thefe parr 
ticulars being known at Rome, greatly fUnk the credit of 
Fabius, and occafioned a general condemnation of his con- 
dud* The people and fenate of Rome, howeveri did not 

* Polyb. lib. iii. cap, 91, Liv. lib. xxii. Cap. 18. 

Vol. XV. H h tak« 



466 



Fmbiuspr$- 
nfemU Han- 
nibal Jrom 
iUtting off 
his col- 
iiagu<y 



Thi Ro- 
mans d$- 
feat the 
Carthagi 
mans in 
Spain. 



The Hilary of the Cartbagtmans^ 

take the command of the army abfolutely from him; but 
gave Minucius an equal authority with the diSator. After 
Fabius'd return to the army» the two generals agreed ta di* 
vide the forces^ that each might ka?e kia feparate corps; Fsk 
bitts, on account of his fuperior ikill in the military »rt» and 
that he might be able to preferve at leaft one part of the ar- 
my, not being difpofed to give his confent to an ahemate 
command *. 

Nothing couM be more agreeable to Hannibal than to 
hear of the difgrace of Fabius, whofc meafuree he £0 nauch 
dreaded. He flattered himfclf, that the diflenjion between 
the two commanders, and the raflinefs.of Minucius, would 
throw an opportunity into his hands of embaraffing the Ro- 
man affairs more than ever. He immediately refohr^d to lay 
a fnare for Minucius. Fabius encamped on the hills, after 
his ufual manner ; and Minucius in the plain, near the' Car- 
thaginians. Hannibal, in the mean time, obferving a fmali 
rifing-ground between him and Minucius, fey which either 
might incommode the other, formed a defign to make him- 
felt'maftcr of it, not doubting but this would bring on an 
a£lion : to effe£): which, he }aid an ambufcade of five thou- 
fand foot, and five hundred horfe, divided into parties of 
about two hundred men each. He then fent a detachment 
to take poireffion of that pod \ which Minucius endeavour- 
ing to prevent, fell into the ambufcade, and would have 
been cut off with all his troops, if Fabius had not ruihed 
from the hills, like a torrent, to his affiftance in the critical 
moment, and forced Hannibal to retire. Hannibal, after this 
adion, fortified bis camp, and continued in a ftate of inac-' 
tion till the following campaign ^ 

In the mean time Afcirubal reinforced the fquadron his 
brother had left him with ten gallies; and gave the com- 
mand of it to Hamilcar, an officer of merit. Hamilcar, 
purfuant to his orders, put to fea, with forty gallies, intend- 
ing to cbaft along, till he came to the mouth of the Ibenis, 
where x\fdrubal was to meet him at the' head of the land- 
forces, that they might, in concert, begin the operations 
of the campaign. Scipio, receiving intelligence of their 
deiign, and at the fame time hearing that Afdrabal was 
already in motion, immediately fitted out a fleet of five-and- 
thirty fail, putting the flower of his land-forces on board. 
Upon his arrival near the mouth of the It»eras> he difpatchcd 

b VaT. Max. lib. iii* cap. S. Enn. ubi fupra* Polyen* Strata 
lib. viii. « Frontin. Strat. lib. ii. cap. 5. ex. a»« Flor. lib. 

ii< Corn. Kep. Aar« Vi^. Eutropt ubi fupra. 

two 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians, 4^7 

two MaiElian vefTels to reconnoitre the enemy, wtio brought 
him advice, that their fquadron of gallies a£lual]y rode at 
anchor in the mouth of the river ; upon which he made the 
neceifary difpofitions to attack it. Afdrubal, receiving timely 
notice of his defigni drew up his army in order of battle on 
the ihore, to affiit, or at leait to animate, his naval forces : 
but they were not able to withftand the efforts of the Ro- 
mans, who, after a fhort difpute, entirely defeated them^ 
forced the vefieU on ihore, killed great numbers of the fea*' 
men and marines, and carried off" twenty-five gallies. From 
this time, the.Carthaginian affairs began to wear an unpro« 
tntfing arpe<% in Spain **. 

The Carthaginians, receiving intelligence of this blow, And gain 
equipped another fleet of feventy fail with the utmoft expe- feveral 
dition, knowing of what confequence it was to be maf- ^^^^^ ^^* 
ters of the fea. With this, according to Polybius, they ^"/^f^ 
touched at one of the ports of Sardinia, and proceeded from ,„ spam 
ihence to Pifa % where the admiral propofed to have a con- and Africa, 
ference with Hannibal : but Servilius, who commanded a 
Roman fquadron of a hundred and twenty gallies, prevented 
that intercourfe» the Carthaginians fiieering off upon his 
approach, and returned to Carthage. Servilrus, for fome 
time, gave them chace ; but finding himfelf not able to come 
up with them, he difcontinued the purfuit, and fteered for 
Cercina, a fmall ifland on the coaft of Regio Syrtica ; which 
he laid under contribution. Hence he failed to Coffyrus, 
another little ifland, near Carthage ; which he eafily fub- 
dued, apd left a garrifon in the town. He afterwards fet 
fail for Sicily, and arrived with his fquadron in the harbour 
o£ Lilybaeum *. 

In the mean time Scipio improved his late naval viftory. ^heconft^ 
He firfl: advanced to Honofca, which he clofely befieged quen^s of 
both by fea and land, took it by ftorm, and levelled it with ^f^* defeat 
theJtground. From thence he proceeded to New Carthage, ^*'^/^'"* 
laid wafte the adjacent territory, and fet fire to the fuburbs 
of that city. Loaded with fpoil, he departed for Longun* 
tica, where he found a vaft quantity of fpartum, a flirub 
much ufed in navigating fliips, amafled by Afdrubal, which 
he either carried off or burnt. Afterwards he landed a body 
of forces in the ifland Ebufus, now Yvica, and pillaged the 
open country ; but could not reduce the town. However^ 
he concluded a treaty with the inhabitants of the Balearic 
iflandSk After thefe exploits, Livy tells us, a hundred and 

^ Polyb. Ub. iii. cap. 9$. Liv. lib. xxii. cap. 19, «x, »i, Zonar. 
lib. ix. cap. i. ® Folyb* & Liv. ubi fupra. ' 

H h 2 twen;y 



^68 The Hijlwy of. the Carthaginians. 

twenty different cantons of Spaniards fubmitted to the Ro^ 
mans, who penetrated as far as the Saltus Caftulonenfis,. 
Afdrubal retiring before them into Lufitaniai and thofe parts 
of Spain bordering upon the ocean. 
Afdrubal Whilft the Carthaginian afFairs were in fuch a melancholy 
*"' ^^f J^ fituation in Spain, Mandonius and Indibilis, two perfons of 
cidties. diftinSion amongft the Ilergetes* advanced to the frontiers 
of the allies of Rome, and ravaged thenr. Scipio, being 
apprifed of this infult, detached a body of three thoufand 
Romans, with fome SpaniQi auxiliaries, to attack them ; 
which they did fo effectually, that they drove them back 
, with great lofs. Upon this defeat they applied to Afdrubal 
for afliftance, who marched with all his forces to fupport 
them. Scipio, being acquainted with this motion, ordered 
all the Celtiberian princes in the Roman intereft to aflemble 
their forces, and fall upon the Carthaginians. In compli- 
ance with this order, theymade an irruption into the Car- 
thaginian territories with a powerful army, took three for- 
trefles by affault, and gave Afdrubal two confiderable over- 
throws, killing above fifteen thoufand men, and taking four 
thoufand prifoners. Nothing farther material happened in 
Spain this campaign, except that the two Scipios paiTed 
the Iberus, and penetrated into the Carthaginian dominions 
as far as the gates of Saguntum, a particular account of 
which has been already given. 
HaftKtM To return to the armies in Italy : Hannibal remained 
ift great qaict in his winter-quarters, till the following fpring, and, 
ptrfjj* before the fcafon for aflion-arrived, had the happinefs to 
b^ar of Fabius's, being recalled to Rome, upon th^ expira- 
tion of his office, which was limited to Cix months. The 
confuls, Cn. Servilius Geminus, and M. Attilius Regulus, 
who fucceeded.him, regulated their conduCl' in all things 
according to the model Fabius had laid down. Upon their 
arrival in the arrpy, they cut ofi^ feveral parties of Hanni- 
bal's foragerS) but declined a general a£l:ion, though he 
pradifed all the art and cunning he was mailer of to draw 
them to a battle. Hannibal therefore found himfeli" fo dif- 
treflTed for want of provifions, that he had once thoughts of 
retiring into Gaul ; but was diverted from his defien by a 
fufpicion, that fuch a retreat would appear fo mucn like a 
flight, that it might be an inducement to his allies to defert 
him. His fafety now feemed entirely to depend upon the 
meafures the two ne\^ confuls, C.Terentius Varro, and Lt 
-ffimilius Paulus, fliould purfue. If they fteadily adhered 
to Fabius's plan of operations, Hannibal muft be irrecover- 
ably loft J but, bjr a departure from it, they would give him 

an 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 4^ 

^n opportunity of recovering his fuperiority. His hopes were 
greatly raifed, when he received intelligence from his fpies, 
that Varro, in difpofition and genius, nearly .refembled 
Sempronius, Flaminius, and Minucius ; that there was a 
total want of harmony betwixt him and his colleague 
Paul us \ and that he was obtruded by the plebeians upon 
the fenate, who had a very indifferent opinion of his capa- 
city. Notwithftanding the Roman army this year confifted 
of eight legions, bcfides the troops of their allies^ making 
about eighty-fix thoufand efFeilive men, he was far from 
defponding, efpecially as he believed that, however nu- 
merous it plight be, two thirds of the troops* being new 
levies, would not be capable of encountering his veterans. 
The event juftified the fentiments he entertained, as' we 
fliall foon perceive ^ 

Hannibal had not only learned the true chars^fter of 7-^5^ j^^. 
Varro, but likewife difcovered his grand defign. He had mansde- 
received advice, that this conful, before he left Rome, de- /'^' « ^^^ 
clared in public, that he would attack the enemy the very ^/ ^/^rtha-' 
firft opportunity, and terminate the war; adding, that it ^'"^^^^ ^ 
would never be at an end, fo long as men of Fabius's com- 
plexion fhould be a^t the head of the Roman armies. He 
had not been long in the Roman, camp, before one of his ' 

detachments routed a body of Carthaginiains, killing feven- 
teen hundred men upon the fpot ; an aftion which greatly 
* encreafed his boldnefe and arrogance. Hannibal confidered 
this lofs as a real advantage, not doubting that it would urge 
him to a battle, which he wanted extremely } for he wa* 
reduced to fuch a fcarcity of provifions at Gerunium, that 
he found it impoflible to fubfid ten days longer ; and the 
Spaniards alieady meditated a defertion, which mud have 
proved fatal to him ; but his good fortune at this cn£« * 
interpofed, and threw in his way an antagonift who extri-: 
cated him, from the difficulties in which he was involved K 

After feveral movements, the two armies came in fight TJieRemait 
of each, other near Cannae, a village and caftle of Apulia, ai^Car' 
fituated on the river Aufidus. Hannibal had taken the '^^^f««» 
qaftle, which commanded all that part of Apulia, and feizisd mf^/ntar ' 
one of the enemy's principal magazines, before the ap- Cann^im 
proach of the Roman army. He had likewi/e taken care Apulia. 
to encamp in an open extenfive plain, proper for his ca* ' 
valry, in whiqh the chief ftrength of his forces confided, 
Paulus, 'confidering Hannibal's great fuperiority in horfe, 

f Polyb. lib. ill. cap. no— ii6, Liv. lib. xxii. cap, 40— 50. Ajr* 
plan in Hannib. s Liv. uhi fupra. > 

H h 3 wifhpi 



470 ^^ Hijory of the Carthaginians. 

wifted to draw the Carthaginians to an irregular fpot of 
ground, where the infantry might have the principal fhare 
in the a£lion ; but Varro being of another opinion, that fa- 
lutary defign was dropped ; a circumftance which proved 
the ruin of the Roman arnfiy. Asfoon'as the con fuls ap- 
peared, Hannibal advanced towards them, at the head of his 
horfe, and began an attack with great bravery; but the 
Romans, intermixing fome of the legionaries with their 
light-armed troops, fuftained the firft fhock of the enemy 
with great firmncfs, and, being fupported by the cavalry, 
repulfed them with confiderable lofs. This check a little 
difcouraged Hannibal, efpccially as* the night rendered him 
rncapable of renewing the charge. After having encou- 
raged his troops with an artful harangue, he commanded 
them to be ready next morning to enter upon aftion. 

Having already given a* particular account of the battle of 

Cannae in our hiftory of the Romans, we fhall here only 

mention a few circumftances which contributed to the 

fortune of the day. 

Ccufa •/ Hannibal's army confided of ten thoufand horfe and 

tke defeat forty thoufand foot ; whereas the Roman cavalry did not 

the Romans exceed fix thoufand, though in the confular army the in- 

there* fantry amounted to eighty ihoufand men. The prodigious 

fize and uncouth figures of the Spaniards and Gauls, to- 

! [ether with the aftivity of the former, and fiercenefs of the 
atter, greatly contributed towards throwing the Romans into 
confufion. The body of Numidians that attacked the Ro- 
man rear,.and the accident which attended Paulus's wound, 
were alfo of fingular fervice to Hannibal on that aufpicious 
day. The confidence the Carthaginian troops repofed in 
their general, whom they eftcemed as invincible, likewifc 
animated them to a prodigious degree, and confequently 
excited them to behave with uncommon refolution. Han- 
. nibal did his utmoft to infpire them with a contempt of the 
Romans on all occafions; which had the defired efFed. 
We are told that when Mago, whom he had fent to view 
the enemy, aifured him, that the Romans were extremely 
numerous, he replied, ** As numerous as they are, I give 
thee my word, brother, thou canft not find one amongft 
them whofe name is Mago." And having thus faid, he 
burft out into laughter, as did all the general officers that 
attended him. This indication of mirth induced the fol- 
diers to believe, that he thought himfelf fure of viftory, and 
of courfe fo raifed their fpirits, that nothing could refift 
them. The arming his Africans in the Roman manner was 
alfo a wife expedient devifed by Hannibalj^ as it enabled 

tbofe 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians. "^7 1- 

thofc to attack and refill the Romans in their own way. 
Thcfc, with other concurring caufes of the defeat at Can- 
nsB, might be expatiated upont but we (hall leave many 
things to the refledlion of the reader, whom we refer to 
the detail formerly giveh of this battle. 

The immediate confequence of this.viftory, as Hannibal Hannibafs 
had forefeen, was the fubmifSon of that part of Italy called '^^^^'^' 
the Old Province, Magna Gr?ecia, Tarentum, Arpi, and %ifforyat 
part of the territory of Capua. The neighbouring pro- Cmpim^ 
vinces likewife difcovered an inclination to throw off the 
Roman yoke ; but wiftiedf to fee whether Hannibal was in 
a condition ' to prote£l them, before they declared them- 
fclves. All the Carthaginian officers, except Maherbal, 
ad^ifed Hannibal to allow his troops fome repofe after the 
great fatigues and hard fervice they had lately undergone : 
but Maherbal, on the contrary, preffed him to march di- 
rcftly to Rome at the head of his horfe, promifing him that, 
within five days, they (hould fup in the Capitol. Hanni* 
bal anfwered, '* That he defeived commendation for the ar- 
dour he fhewed ; but that an affair of fuch importance re- 
quired mature deliberation." To whom Maherbal replied, 
" I perceive the gods have not endued the fame perfon with * 
every (hining talent. You know, Hannibal, how to con- 
quer ; but not how to improve a vi£lory.'* Livy feems to 
adopt Maherbal's notion, and thinks Hannibal guilty of a 
capital error on this occafion ; but others, as we have elfc- 
whcrc remarked, entertained different fentiments of this 
point of that renowned generaFs conduft : for which,T>c- 
fides thofe already mentioned, they aflign the following lea- 
fons : I. Hannibal was one of the moft confummate gene- 
rals antiquity ever produced ; a great military genius ; a per- 
fon of amazing prudence, forecaft, and penetration, as 
the whole feries of his aftions clearly demonftrates. It is 
therefore highly improbable that, in this fingle inftance, he 
fhould either have failed to make choice of the beft expe- 
dients, or been backward to put his defigns in execution. 
2. They are difpofed to judge favourably of him from the 
filence of Polybius, who, fpeaking of the memorable confc- 
quences of this famous battle, fays, that the Carthaginians 
believed they (hould poffefs themfelves of Rome at the firft 
affault : but he gives us no room to fuppofe, that fuch a pro- 
jeft was feafible, nor that Hannibal did wrong in not at- 
tempting to put it in execution. 3. That as his infantry, 
before the battle of Cannae, did not amount to above forty 
thoufand men| he had not (Ixength fufficient to undertake 

the 



472 The Hyhry of the Carthaginians^ 

tbe fiege of Rome, efpecially as that city was very populous, 
ilrongly fortified, and defended by a garrifon of two le- 
gions. This reafon will appear in a ilronger light, if we 
confider, that his infantry muft have been confiderably 
weakened by the lofs he fudained in the aftion at Cannae^ 
which amounted, on their part only, to five thoufand five 
hundred men. 4. Hannibal was deilitute of battering en- 
gines* ammunition, and every necefTary for carrying oa 
a fiege ; and confequently, on this account, as well as the 
weakpefs of his troops, he tnuft have been incapable of at- 
tacking in form fo large a city as Rome In proof of what 
is advanced, it may ]be obferved that, for want of thefe ne- 
cefTaries, even after his viftory at the lake Thrafymenus, 
be mifcarried in his attempt upon Spoletum, a town of no 
great (Irength ; and, after the battle of Cannae, was forced 
to raife the fiege of Cafilinum, a little iqconfiderable city. 
5. Not any of the Italian nations had yet declared for him ; 
fo that, had he mifcarried in the attempt, he mud have 
been utterly ruined. Thef:: reafons, with others that might 
be offered, feem to invalidate the opinion of thofe who have 
efpoufcd Maherbars fide of the qiiedion '*. 
Hi advan" When Hannibal had pillaged the Roman camp, he 
€es to Cu" marched into Samnium, being informed that the Hirpini^ 
A*« I and other neighbouring nations, were difpofed to enter into 

an alliance with the Carthaginians. He fird advanced to 
Compfa, which opened its gates, and admitted a Carthagi- 
nian garrifon. In this place he left his heavy baggage, as 
well as the immenfe plunder he had amafiTed : then order- 
ing his brother Mago, with a body of troops dedined for 
that purpofe, to poflefs himfelf of all the fortrefles of that 
country, he moved into Campania, the mod delicious pro- 
vince of Italy. The humanity with which Hannibal had con- 
ftantly treated the Italian prifoners, as well as the fan^e of 
the complete victory lately obtained, wrought fo favour- 
ably upon the Lucani, Brucii, and Apulians, that they ex- 
prefled an eager defire of being taken under his protec- 
tion ; even the Campanians,a nation more obliged to Rome 
than any in Italy, except the Latins, being much afFed^ 
cd with the gallant behaviour and good fortune of Hanni- 
bal, difcovered an inclination to abandon their natural 
friends. Of which difpofition the Carthaginian general re- 
ceiving intelligence, he direfted his march towards Capua, 
not doubting but that, by means of the popular fa^ion 

It Aul.Gel. in No£V. Attic, lib* x. cap. ^4. Cat. in Origin. Gael. 
Hilt. lib. ii. Piut. in Fab. Macrob. Saturn, lib. i. cap. 4. 

whicU 



I 

\ The Hiftory of the Carthagtnians. 475 

which then prevailed » he (hould eafily reduce that import- 
ant place *. 

Some of the leading men in Capua had offered to deliver and has 
the city into Hannibal's hands immediately after the battle that city . 
of the lake Thrafymenus. This profpcft induced that gc^ /''rrender^ 
neral to march his army to their frontiers, inftead of ad- '^'•^'»»« 
vancing to Rome, as fome think he might have done ; though 
at that time he was fo narrowly M^atched by Fabius, that his 
partifans in Capua could not find an opportunity of exe- 
cuting the defign thev had formed : but now, by the aflift* 
ance and intreaties of Pacuvius Calavius, an ambitious no- 
bleman, who had the populace at his devotion, he pofleflcd 
himfelfof the city. However, fome imagine that thisftep 
was fo far from being advantageous to him, that it contri- ' 

buted to his ruin. Many, on the other hand, believe that 
the difappointment which the Carthaginian general met 
with in the execution of his grand deiign, was owing to 
the intrigues of Hanno's faction, and not to his refidence 
2t Capua. 

Whilft Hannibal was pufliing on the war in Italy with 7)5^ cv»r- 
the utmoft vigour, the ftate of Carthage fent two fleets to thaginians 
the coafts of Sicily. One of thefe ravaged the maritime part ra^vage thg 
of Hiero's territories, becaufe that prince was in alliance *'*'*'''*»* 
with Rome, whilft the other ftood oflF to the iflands ^- ^>'j,v 
gades, in order to obferve the motions of the Romans* dothinious, 
The admiral of this Iquadron had orders to attack Lilyb«um 
both by fea and land, as foon as the Romans advanced to 
the relief of king Hiero ; of which order T. Otacilius, the 
propraetor, being apprifed, he difpatched an exprefs to Rome 
for a fpeedy reinforcement of (hips : but the fenate, confi^ 
dering the depl/Drable condition of the republic, did not 
think proper to comply with his requeft. He therefore found 
himfelf obliged to ftand upon the defenfive, left he fliould 
expofe the Roman dominions in Sicily to invafion. 

Notwithftanding the "implacable hatred Hannibal bore Hannibal 
the Romans, he difpatched Carthalo to Rome, to treat with cannot pre- 
the fenate about a redemption of the prifoners taken in the **J«'^«^o/i 
battle of Cannae. Though the fum demanded for thefe pri- ^^„^^/ ^ 
foners was far from being exorbitant, the confcript fathers ^ggp^ ft^^^ 
refufed the payment of it. The reafons alleged for this re- country^ 
fufal by the Romans has already been given ; but the true '»^»« 
one feems to have been the extreme poverty of the Ro- 
man ftate at the prefent period. Hannibal, upon Car- 
thalo's return, fent all the Roman prifoners of diftinftion to 

* Livy & Polyb. ubi fupra. Zonar. lib. ix. cap. 1. 

Carthage, 



474 



pattkes 

mtfith an 
account of 
Ms great 
/mcce/f. 



The Hijlory of the Carthaginians. 

Carthage, and treated the others in the manner related in a 
former part of this work ^ (O). 

Soon after Capua had fubmitted, many cities of the Brntii 
opened their gates to Hannibal, who ordered his brother 
Mago to take poiTeffion of them. Mago was then difpatched 
to Carthage, with the important news of the great vifilory 
obtained at Cannae, and its happy confequences. Upon his 
arrival, he acquainted the fenate that Hannibal had defeat^ 
ed fix Roman generals, four of whom were confuls, one 
dtflator, -and the other general of the horfe to the dictator; 
that he had engaged fixconfular armies, killed twoconfuls^ 
wounded one, and driven another out of the field, with 
fcarce fifty men to attend him ; that he had routed the ge- 
neral of the horfe, who was of equal power with the con- 
fuls; that the di^ltator was efteemed the only general fit to 
command an army, merely becaufe he had not had the coa-- 
yage to engage Hannibal. As a demon flrative proof of what 
he advanced, he produced, according to fome authors, three 
bufliels and a half of rings of Roman knights and fenators. 
He likewife fubjoined, that Capua, a city which was not only 
the metropolis of Campania, but, fince the defeat of the 
Romans at Cannae, of Italy itfelf, .had fubmitted to Hanoi* 
bal. For fuch unparalleled fuccefs he moved, that thanks 
fiiould be returned to the immortal gods ; and that an inv* 
mediate reinforcement fiiould be fent to Hannibal, who be^ 
ing in the heart of an enemy*s country, wanted both men 
and money, efpecially as his troops muft have greatly fuf- 
fered in their various engagements with die enemy. All 
ranks and degrees of people were filled with joy on this 
happy occafion/ However Hanno, with all his adherents, 

k Polyb. lib. vi. Tub fin. Liv. iibi fup. cap. 58-^61. Appian. in 
Hannib. p. 570. edit. Tollii, Am ft. 1670. Zonar. ubi fap« cap. 2. 



(O) Appian and Zonaras in- 
timate, that Hannibal fold fome 
of the Roman captives for 
(laves, and flew a vaft number 
of the meaner fort, with whofe 
bodies he made a bridge over 
a river, which facilitated a paf- 
fage for his troops : but this 
laft inftence of cruelty feems 
highly improbable, efpecially 
confidering the partiality of the 
hiftorians from whom it comes, 
and that it is paiTed over in fi- 



lence by Polybius. That ex- 
cellent author, arriongft other 
things, obferves, that the fe- 
nate of Rome imagined, that a 
compliance with HannibaPs 
propofal would look like a tacit 
acknowlegement of his great 
fuperiority, and therefore de« 
clined clofing with it. Livy 
affirm s» that many of the Ro- 
man prifoners were bought of 
Hanjiibal by the Greeks, which 
may poffibly be true. 

oppofcd 



The Hiftory of the Carthaginians. 475 

oppofed the continuation of the war^ and confequently vot- 
ed againfl: fending Hannibal any fuccours; but the majority 
of the fenate confidering this merely as the tSt€t of pre- 
judice and jealoufy, orders were given to fumifh the army, 
in Italy with a proper reinforcement of troops, as well as 
an ample fupply of money and provifions. A body of four 
thoufand Numidians, with forty elephants, was iirft de- 
ftined for that country; a large detachment of Spanifh 
forces was appointed to follow the Numidians ; and, that 
thefe.lail troops might be ready in tin^e, Mago departed im- 
mediately for Spain, to raife twenty thoufand foot and four 
thoufand horfe. The Carthaginians propofed to recruit, 
with thefe new levies, not only Hannibal's army, but that 
likewife which afted it Spain K 

' Liv. ubi flip. Flor. lib. ii. cap. 6. Plin.lib. xxxiii. cap. 50.H«n^ 
nib. apud Lucian. in DiaU Eutrop. Zonar. & Orof. ubi lupra. 



END OF THE FIFTEENTH VOLUME. 



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